If you’re a passionate gardener who prides yourself on a lush, colourful landscape, there’s one popular flower you might want to reconsider. As climate conditions continue to shift, our once-reliable garden favourites are facing new challenges.
Temperatures are continuing to rise relentlessly, and plants that rely heavily on moisture are beginning to falter. In regions where they once flourished with ease, these blooms are now buckling under the weight of scorching heat and extended dry spells. Hydrangeas, in particular, are finding it harder to cope.
Reflecting on the devastating impact of extreme weather, one nursery proprietor told the Farmiddable Observer: “I lost nearly 70% of my hydrangea collection during the 2022 heat waves despite daily watering. The climate simply doesn’t support them anymore.”
Indicators of a distressed hydrangea include foliage appearing scorched and contorted, and hues that have deteriorated from brilliant to lacklustre brown. Should you observe sagging branches rather than erect ones, it’s an unmistakable indication your hydrangea faces severe distress, reports Chronicle Live.
Increasingly, professional gardeners are recommending their clients consider drought-resistant alternatives that still offer a burst of colour but require less water. They’re proposing plants such as lavender, ceanothus, and Russian sage, all of which yield stunning flowers and demand far less maintenance.
For added practicality, it’s advised that gardeners position drought-tolerant bulbs in areas typically cooler and damper to cultivate a robust garden. These could encompass autumn-flowering perennials and strategic spring plantings, ideally introduced to your garden before the onset of heatwaves.
As gardening practices adapt with a focus on climate change, the shift away from hydrangeas appears to be just the beginning. By altering what we plant, we’re not only recognising the realities of our changing climate, but we can also contribute to reducing the amount of water utilised for plant care.
The effort previously expended on tending to hydrangeas can now be redirected to nurturing other plants that will flourish effortlessly under these conditions.