Northants, Leics &amp; Rutland


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/fig-tree-watering-can.jpg" alt="Fig tree watering can gardening tips from Hannah Phillips" class="wp-image-61571" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/fig-tree-watering-can.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/fig-tree-watering-can-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/fig-tree-watering-can-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>In case you hadn’t noticed, times are changing. This year we’ve had the driest spring since 1836 and the warmest summer on record. Hannah Phillips of HP Garden Design is on the case, with her expert take on how to manage your garden in an ever-changing climate &#8211; here&#8217;s her take on how to cope:</p>



<p>Given the majority of us would like to have a garden somewhere in the sweet spot of ‘Chelsea ready’ and ‘requires no maintenance’ perhaps we need to start thinking differently about the concept of gardens, gardening and what it’s all going to look like in the future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-last-couple-of-dry-summers-have-been-really-hard-work-how-can-i-have-a-garden-that-looks-good-but-is-easier-to-look-after-and-more-sustainable">The last couple of dry summers have been really hard work. How can I have a garden that looks good but is easier to look after and more sustainable?</h2>



<ul>
<li>Observe. Look at what’s coping best. If some species are doing well (particularly amongst the perennials) consider introducing more of these along with other plants better suited to the changing conditions.</li>



<li>Think ahead. Plant selection is no longer about what suits your garden now, it’s about what conditions it’s likely to face in the future (especially important for shrubs and trees that should be around for a long time).</li>



<li>Consider plants that are more drought tolerant and look at ways to integrate rain water management into your garden. It’s not just about having a water butt. There are lots of creative ways to get the water that falls on your roofs and paving to where it’s needed instead of disappearing down the drain. When you allow ground water to replenish when it does rain, the planting is more resilient when it doesn’t.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Water-lilies.jpg" alt="Water lilies in garden pond" class="wp-image-61577" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Water-lilies.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Water-lilies-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Water-lilies-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-i-love-a-bit-of-summer-colour-but-my-usual-annuals-have-not-been-performing-well-recently-how-else-could-i-get-seasonal-colour">I love a bit of summer colour but my usual annuals have not been performing well recently. How else could I get seasonal colour?</h2>



<ul>
<li>I’m not adverse to the odd pot of flouncy bedding plants in the right spot and self-set annuals like Calendula and Nigella are a joy anywhere. However, the traditional bedding display may best become a thing of the past. Resource-intensive to produce and shockingly wasteful when it all gets scrapped at the end of the season, these plants rarely have chance to put down meaningful roots and are the first to look floppy when rain is scarce. If you can’t do without your annual pop of colour, consider switching to native varieties typical of wildflower meadows like Cornflowers, Poppies and Scabious that thrive in scant conditions. Varieties grown from seed get the best chance of establishing a good root system in situ and being generally more resilient.</li>



<li>Personally, I’m in it for the long haul. Perennials are much better value long term – buy once, get years of interest. Pick something that suits the conditions and gives you the colour you love. It’s better all round for ground cover, drought resilience, habitat creation and your wallet.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="664" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/cornflowers.jpg" alt="Cornflowers in garden" class="wp-image-61575" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/cornflowers.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/cornflowers-300x199.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/cornflowers-768x510.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-my-garden-is-just-all-over-the-place-this-year-things-are-flowering-when-i-don-t-expect-them-to-and-vice-versa-what-s-going-on">My garden is just all over the place this year. Things are flowering when I don’t expect them to and vice versa. What’s going on?</h2>



<ul>
<li>Plants know what they need. If your flowers, trees or shrubs are a bit confused this year, it’s not really surprising. We had barely any rain over spring and early summer, then a deluge later on. In some cases, this triggered some of the growth plants couldn’t put on earlier in the year, bu, look out, this new growth will be vulnerable to early frosts.</li>



<li>I recently visited one of the best tree nurseries in the UK and within the same variety saw trees in flower, some in fruit and some without leaves – all at the same time. This is how things go when the weather is extreme and unpredictable. Plants that are able to cope with fluctuations in water and heat will continue on as they can be driven by their individual tolerances whereas others may struggle to survive without intervention, so it may be time to think about swapping your Petunias and Delphiniums for things like Californian Poppies, Sedum and Achillea.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Californian-Poppies.jpg" alt="Californian Poppies sustainable garden design" class="wp-image-61586" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Californian-Poppies.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Californian-Poppies-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Californian-Poppies-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Californian-Poppies-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-how-will-i-know-when-i-need-to-do-things-in-my-garden">So, how will I know when I need to do things in my garden?</h2>



<ul>
<li>Again, keep your eyes peeled! If you already have an idea of what to do / when, with the plants you have, keep an eye on them to gauge when they need attention. Be driven by the weather conditions of that particular growing season and trust your instincts.</li>



<li>If you’re not a gardener and you like Monty to tell you what to do, the RHS website is a good resource for practical gardening tips and schedules. There will always be annual variations &#8211; first and last frosts etc, which can affect when you do things so, it’s no different really. And, right now, if your garden has missed the memo, keep on enjoying whatever it’s still doing right now!</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Zinnia-butterfly.jpg" alt="Pink Zinnia with butterfly" class="wp-image-61579" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Zinnia-butterfly.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Zinnia-butterfly-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Zinnia-butterfly-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-what-can-i-do-right-now-to-start-making-my-garden-more-sustainable-right-now">So, what can I do right now to start making my garden more sustainable right now?</h2>



<ul>
<li>There&#8217;s a saying that the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago and the second best time is now. That could also apply to starting a compost heap. You don’t need much space and it’ll provide you with a free resource that will feed and improve your soil structure and help retain moisture. Some light tidying (don’t forget to leave some leafy nooks and crannies for your garden friends) can give you some starting material for your heap.</li>



<li>Mulch it! Using said, DIY or, bought peat free compost, autumn is a great time to mulch around plants to help suppress weeds and retain moisture. Over Winter, the mulch will be drawn in and broken down into the soil by bugs and microbes improving your soil for the next growing season.</li>



<li>You can also lift and divide herbaceous perennials that have got too big for their boots. Plant them elsewhere or pot them up for future use. Free plants. </li>



<li>Equally, take advantage of dry day and collect and sow seeds from some of the more drought tolerant hardy perennials you may already have such as Salvia, Verbena, Achillea or Echinacea.</li>



<li>Continue to support any new or young plants in your garden by keeping them watered (preferably with rain water). Even drought tolerant plants need watering until they grow a strong root system that can seek out that residual moisture.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Compost-1.jpg" alt="garden compost" class="wp-image-61583" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Compost-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Compost-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/09/Compost-1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Gardening has, historically been a little bit about controlling nature – creating environments that didn’t necessarily exist and then supporting whatever plants you choose to grow. If want more sustainable gardens – ones that are stable and thrive with minimal intervention, we need to design spaces designed to cope with what the elements do or, don’t throw at them.</p>



<p>Time to start working with nature not against it.</p>



<p><em>For more help with planning and future-proofing your garden visit <a href="https://www.hpgardendesign.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hpgardendesign.co.uk</a> and <a href="https://www.hpgardendesign.co.uk/rainventures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rainventures.co.uk</a></em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://northantsleicsrutland.muddystilettos.co.uk/culture/gardening-culture/gardening-tips-for-the-winter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leave it be! Why not to put your garden to bed and other gardening tips for the winter</a></li>



<li><a href="https://northantsleicsrutland.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/gardening/how-to-holiday-proof-your-garden/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to holiday proof your garden</a></li>



<li><a href="https://northantsleicsrutland.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/gardening/rain-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why rain gardens are making a big splash</a></li>
</ul>



<p></p>


Change is in the air: how to climate-proof your garden

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