We all enjoyed listening to Nigel Start who, after a career in plant breeding and crop production, clearly enjoys giving talks to clubs like ours. His subject for the evening was a topical one: \u201cCoping with Climate Change\u201d, with particular emphasis of course on our gardens.<\/p>\n
He started by giving us a quick rundown of the statistics about global warming and the changes to our weather patterns: 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded. Here in East Anglia we have all noticed more extreme events: droughts, followed by prolonged wet periods and also very cold snaps. We all lost plants last winter: our choisya, hebe and pittosporum all suffered.<\/p>\n
What to do? Our ground in East Anglia dries out quickly. We need to irrigate more by capturing rainfall; Nigel gave tips about filling large plastic containers with roof rainfall and then feeding that water to the plants. He recommended permeable hard surfaces, e.g. gravel driveways that absorb rain quickly. (Hard-standing of course contributes to flooding.) We need to use lots of mulch e.g. wood chippings to protect our soil and keep it moist and warm through the winter, letting the worms and microorganisms work happily underneath it. He also recommended ploughing in cover crops e.g. clover\/mustard and \u2018strawch\u2019 to enrich the soil through the winter.<\/p>\n
What to plant? Nigel recommended perennials rather than annuals. Plant in the autumn and their deep roots will help them survive. The winners for climate change are evergreens with their prolonged photosynthesis (e.g. ivy, holly, mistletoe and yew); spring perennials such as primulas, wallflowers and bulbs; potentilla, salvias, buddleia and ornamental grasses. Other plants that are doing well with extremes in temperature and moisture are geraniums e.g. Johnson\u2019s blue, native ferns, philadelphus and tamarisk, both deep rooted.<\/p>\n
What not to plant? Summer bedding plants, pulmonaria, hosta, astilbe; and forget that fine grass lawn. Coarser grass will do better with its deeper roots.<\/p>\n
As for vegetables, plant onions, garlic and broad beans in October and mulch! Mediterranean plants like sunflowers and maize will thrive.<\/p>\n
With climate change plant pests are increasing. Beware the box moth, the leek moth, black fly and pollen beetles! The solution can be to grow under cover in those much-maligned polytunnels: they protect plants such as mangetout and pak choi from insects and from extremes of heat, frost or rain. Another solution is to create wildlife refuges: ponds, log piles, rockeries and untidy areas (we all have those!). Frogs and hedgehogs will welcome them and help keep our gardens pest free.<\/p>\n
Nigel brought branches of mistletoe with him which added to the festive feel of the meeting which concluded with our famous Christmas buffet.<\/p>\n
Margaret Jackson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We all enjoyed listening to Nigel Start who, after a career in plant breeding and crop production, clearly enjoys giving talks to clubs like ours. His subject for the evening was a topical one: \u201cCoping with Climate Change\u201d, with particular … Continue reading