WELCOME TO SIGNAL BOX PLANTS & GARDENS

September Update

July and August updates have not appeared on the website, as every time I have written a piece on this year’s weather, the situation has changed, leaving my thoughts incomplete and allowing a new element to be introduced into the conversation.

Back in July, the emphasis was on how some plants were suffering badly due to the drought and extreme temperatures, and this was undoubtedly the case. However, sitting here in the middle of September, I can report that after some heavy rainfall many plants have not only recovered, but are racing to put on growth and flower as much as possible before the first frosts arrive.

This encouraging sign has led me to conclude that we should not be in such a hurry to discard anything deemed weak in the face of extreme conditions. The rush to “drought-tolerant” planting promoted so heavily recently, allied to the longer-term trend for “instant gardening”, strikes me as part of the same self-promotion by a section of the horticultural industry, rather than necessarily being what is best for the individual and the gardens they tend.

Has anybody stopped to think how the drought-tolerant grouping will cope with increasingly wet winters? After all, while we have spent much of this summer discussing drought, Leicestershire has only recently emerged from its wettest winter on record. The wonderful thing about humans is that we can creatively innovate to overcome a problem, so perhaps a little time for observation and reflection should be practised before rushing to replace much-loved varieties with a forest of cacti!

Seeing what was once a well-maintained lawn reduced to a carpet of straw for the whole of the summer season is perhaps a different case, and this inevitably influences decisions about the future use and appearance of these spaces. In one instance, I have been asked to prepare plans to remove the lawn altogether and replace it with hard landscaping and additional planting.

When the subject was first raised, my customer was surprised by my reaction, having expected some resistance, when in reality any proposal that improves the practical use of a garden while creating opportunities for thoughtful new planting is welcome. The challenge, of course, is to achieve the right balance so that the hard landscaping complements rather than dominates the garden.

In this case, the lawn is modest in size, making it possible to create a harmonious design while introducing new features such as water and shade. However, this should not mean the death knell for lawns everywhere. I do think the care of such spaces should be re-evaluated in light of climatic, financial and environmental considerations.

I have been thinking about a gentler approach which could be more beneficial. This would entail a more regular treatment programme, but with a lighter touch and greater reliance on natural rather than chemical fertilisers. I am trialling this with one of my customers, and I will keep you updated on its progress throughout 2027.

PS The image was created by my son as a joke!