From summer heatwaves to winter downpours, Britain’s climate is becoming more extreme and unpredictable. Experts at Cambridge University Botanic Garden are busy working out which plants are most likely to survive.
Their 5 tips:
- Know the site – what is the climate of the garden and what plants suit this climate?
- Change the mindset – A better way of growing in future will be to use plant mixes that are better aligned to the specific conditions of your garden
- Manage the water – Are there other ways to capture water for your garden instead of using a hosepipe?
- Plant the right trees – Considered placement of trees and hedges can create shade to keep plants, and people, cool in hot weather.
- Keep experimenting – It’s a big experiment – and sometimes the extreme weather in Cambridge leads to failures.