Are you going to change what you grow due to climate change?

That must be a record @BB3, greening up in 13 mins between your two posts .

 

Great isn't it!

 

Thanks for your support @BB3 , @micearguers and @Plantminded.

This drought was modelled in March but for Europe as a whole. The German forecast predicted 40c and drought for July and August at the end of June, but guess what, they have rain almost every day since then, reservoirs are filled up, the soil is well watered, and the temperatures are normal if not below. You can imagine the sarcastic comments in newspapers.
It seems that we are the only ones affected by this drought into the summer. What really upsets me is the forecast when there is rain shown, it stops above us, splits around Wiltshire and appears again below Wiltshire.

 

I know the feeling and it's horrible. In 2022 we were the driest part of the country and the particular area I live in had the least rain in our county. A friend who lives in Scotland had more rain in one day than we did in 6-8 months. We've been dry most of this spell but have had a reasonable amount of rain in the last week.

I'm throwing loads of seed down into the garden every winter to try and build a bit of a seed bank. Long lived seed like poppies might be an idea as if some germinate and we get a dry spell, you may have some flowers but as they are annuals, it's less worrying if they don't make it.

 

I had added a lot of landscape bark over winter and this was eventually not helping. The foxgloves seeds that I spread last month will have no chance to germinate with the soil.

 

It’s a difficult balance isn’t it @simone_in_wiltshirel mulch vs allowing annuals and self-seeders a chance to germinate

 

@simone_in_wiltshire you are not alone with the lack of rain. In this little part of SW Somerset ( on the Bristol Channel more or less opposite Cardiff ), there has been very little rain so far this year. Mostly just hot and windy.
The only reason I am considering changing/reducing what I grow is more physical/ageing altho I would like to reduce the number of planters I currently have.

 

I know Philippa.
Did I tell that story here? First July weekend, we went to a nearby Open Garden. Heavy rain for half an hour, and later on at least 3 heavy showers while visiting the gardens. Back home, I was full of hope and saw the butts half filled in my imagination.
Coming into my garden, not one single drop had fallen, and I saw that only a few leaves of the acer on the left fence had some drops. The rain had stopped literally at my fence to the left

 

Not only that. It’s dark bark and with that sunshine for months now, the bed is much warmer and plants that were planted last year didn’t grow this year as expected.

 

It occurs to me but I'm no means an expert but bark is a shady, wet ,woodlandy sort of thing whereas gravel is more deserty. Maybe you'd be better with plants that will seed in gravel.
Naturally, as soon as you do that, there will be floods of biblical proportions , and the local gardeners will be grateful.

 

Gravel is no option for me. I want to keep the garden degradable. I will take off the dark bark and try to get wood ships from light wood.

 

Foxgloves will certainly seed into areas with bark. They'll also germinate on the material itself. In the natural world, that's largely how they grow -edges of woodland, and in that woodland itself. Anywhere that has a suitable medium to grow in. Even the cultivated varieties will grow in areas which have naturally occurring leaf fall/bark drop etc.
They'll also drop through it [bark] because they're so tiny, and will then make contact with the soil below.
However, that isn't the only criteria for success.
If your area is very dry for long periods, it's more about growing plants that suit those conditions. It's not necessarily the growing medium alone that causes a problem. Generally, dry conditions aren't so good for digitalis until established and self seeding, but that's the same for many plants.
The opposite also applies, which is why many plants don't easily self seed here where I am.

 

The big question is "What new climate pattern do you plant for?" Last year was very wet, this year has been pretty much bone dry for the past 3 or 4 months. Plants which may have thrived last year would have died off this year, and vice versa. Maybe artificial grass and plastic plants is the way to go?

 

I think the climate is going to be more variable in terms of rain, so good drainage is going to be an important consideration whatever you want to grow short of pond and bog plants.
Winds will probably be stronger and more frequent so thinking about shelter and shelter belts becomes important in more areas, lower growing plants might be worth more considering.
Overall it looks as if average temperatures will be higher so tender plants might become easier, however don't forget that we will still get cold snaps maybe sudden with less time for plants to shut down. There again with hotter summers some shrubs will ripen better and produce more flowers, fruit next year and possibly survive cold better.
I think ground cover will be important, either plants, gravel or organic matter as this will help with water retention, keep the soil temperature down, reduce compaction and run off from heavy rain.
Increase the soil organic content, helps with moisture retention and drainage and resilience.
Good gardening practice will be important, so proper soil preparation before planting, pruning to avoid wind damage, mulching, proper watering, careful plant selection for the specific conditions. Maybe plant smaller plants as these are easier to establish and get used to your conditions.