English gardens must find ways to adapt to increasing climate change…

The RHS has published a new report with guidance for gardeners on how to deal with the effects of global climate change on English gardens.

England has already seen how changes in climate have led to flowers and plants blooming much earlier than fifty years ago. But, it has also brought temperamental weather; with flooding, storms and heavy rain a much more common source of problems.

This may lead to a change in traditional landscaping choices towards more climate appropriate solutions like artificial grass.

Two halves…

The report has projections for climate change up to the end of the century and how it will change parts of England. Essentially the country will become a climate of two halves – wet and windy in the north, hot and dry in the south, with Northampton being the border line.

Either way, the traditional English lawn is going to struggle to cope with the changes and will have to adapt in order to remain part of English gardens.

olive tree

Hot and dry…

East Anglia has an expected temperature rise of up to 5°C by the end of the century, with a potential increase in artificial lawns.

Whilst there might be aesthetic or lifestyle reasons for choosing artificial grass, it also has the benefit of conserving water. A natural lawn takes a lot of water from the ground in order to grow.

California has been suffering through a drought for the last decade which has led to a significant rise in the number of artificial lawns. Natural lawns use about 55 gallons of water per square foot annually so by replacing it with natural grass, this water can be diverted elsewhere.

wateryground

Wet and windy…

On the opposite side, the West Country is expected to see a rise in temperature of 3°C but with heavy rain and more frequent storms. Mowing lawns will become difficult due to waterlogged soil so this could also see a rise in artificial lawns. Artificial lawns are installed with a superior draining base to cope with this problem.

The North of England will see a lesser temperature rise but is expected to also see more winter rain and more violent storms. Gardens will have to reflect this with hardier landscaping choices to cope with strong winds, and plants that thrive in wetter conditions.

Is artificial grass the solution?

We always recommend a best of both worlds approach to using artificial grass. It can make a massive difference to a garden and encourage outdoor activity. It sits well alongside flowers and plants, and can provide a solution to all sorts of garden problems!

(Sources: BBC, RHS)