AUGUST 2025

Hopefully everyone is coping well with the hot dry summer we have been having. Storm Florris may be tracking its way across the north of these islands, but it will still be some time before the lack of rain has been replenished. I have in this last month been reading an interesting book called “Designing the Lush Dry Garden’, which centres around the Ruth Bancroft Garden in California. Think of gardens filled with palms, succulents, cacti and mediterranean planting. Not plants that readily flourish in a Monmouthshire garden, but it reminded me of the importance of paying attention to the specific climate and microclimates present within each garden.

We are lucky in the UK to have a fairly forgiving range of climates, and one in which we can grow a wide variety of plants. However we should also take note of the variability of our local climate and the impact that can have on the plants we choose. Most plant information, be it in books or online will give an idea of where plants will grow, what temperature range they like, whether in light, partial shade or full shade, but these tend to be rather broad. We know how much the climate varies from one end of the country to the other, but altitude is also important. Which side of a valley/hill plants are growing can play a part. Think about how close the garden is to the sea, and which sea it is exposed to. The soil climate must also be considered, is it very shallow rocky soil, perhaps more peaty, or highly alkaline. All of these factors will impact plant growth.

Within even a small garden there will be a series of different microclimates as some areas are more exposed to the sun, some may be under trees, others perhaps lie where water accumulates. Different balconies of a building will offer variable growing environments, some will face in different directions and others may be more exposed. Microclimates can be altered and manipulated by the addition or removal of walls, screens and trees for example, or by adapting the soil. However the simplest option by far is to use plants that are capable of growing and thriving in specific environmental niches. 

There is something of a trend at present to use ‘native’ plants, which seems like a solid approach in searching for plants that work in particular environments. But what do we really mean by the word ‘native’, where does one draw that line in the sand? Do we go from those plants introduced by the Normans, maybe the Romans, or perhaps since the last Ice Age? What of those plants that grew here, were killed by the ice and have not yet re-colonised this part of the world.

Plants have been around far longer than we have, and pay little attention to our borderlines. They spread and colonise neighbouring areas that suit their environmental requirements, but their communities can be hemmed in by natural barriers such as seas and mountains. So when looking for plants that will suit, research those that do well in areas/gardens around you, and search similar climactic areas of the world as plants from similar environments will likely thrive. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

If you choose plants that are well adapted to your specific climate and microclimate the general care of those plants becomes far easier. You are working with the plant and its survival instincts rather than trying to turn it in a direction it does not wish to go. At a practical level it will likely mean less watering, feeding, and maintenance saving both time and cost. Through the combination of these plants it means that you will have a garden filled with combinations of plants unique to your site.  

As for those wonderful ‘dry’ plants at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, well let’s hope that Monmouthshire never becomes so hot and dry as to make these the go-to plants. A trip to California to see them seems far better!!