How do you keep a garden thriving when we are in a country-wide drought that looks set to continue well into next year?  Restrictions for last year’s hosepipe ban were only lifted in February after reservoirs recovered, and it would not surprise me if we faced a similar situation again. As both a garden designer and the owner of a newly developing garden, I share the same frustrations as many gardeners.

There are some important exemptions. New plantings, such as our clients’ gardens, are exempt in order to help establish the investment, and vegetable crops often receive greater flexibility as food plants. Even so, the effects of prolonged drought are impossible to ignore. Soil moisture has been exhausted, and many trees and shrubs are showing signs of stress. Conifers and other evergreens deserve particular attention. They often conceal drought damage until it is too late, so browning foliage is usually a sign that the plant has been under stress for some time and those leaves can’t be brought back.

Yet there is good news, have you noticed that established borders are coping remarkably well? Deep-rooted perennials, planted in the right place and suited to their conditions, are proving resilient. Mature gardens have a quiet strength that develops over time. But by August, it is not just the plants but the gardener who begins to feel weary. Lawns have browned, watering feels endless, and enthusiasm starts to fade. But autumn is just around the corner, bringing cooler temperatures and, hopefully, rain. It is one of the very best times to improve the soil with organic matter and establish new planting. Every garden has its own microclimate. Some areas stay cool and moist, while others bake in reflected heat. Learning those differences is one of gardening’s greatest skills, so look now when the season is at its worst!

For now, enjoy what remains green, seek the shade of established trees and remember that gardens are remarkably resilient. A difficult summer rarely defines them. And if your garden has no trees yet, perhaps this autumn is the perfect time to plant one. In a warming climate, they may become the most valuable plants we ever grow.

Lucie Giselle Ponsford – Creative Director & Founder/ Head Garden Designer.