Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has advised gardeners on which plants to prioritise for watering during the current heatwave, and which can be left to fend for themselves. Record May temperatures have raised fears of hosepipe bans, with several water companies having already imposed temporary use bans at the end of 2025 and start of 2026.
The Met Office confirmed that Tuesday was the hottest May day on record for both England and Wales, with Kew Gardens reaching 35.1C and Cardiff Bute Park hitting 32.9C. The dry conditions have escalated drought across the UK, with water shortages in 2025 declared a “nationally significant incident” due to widespread damage to environment and agriculture.
Writing on Garden Collective, Titchmarsh stressed the need to prioritise watering. He said newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials require watering during dry spells, at least in their first year. He also recommended watering container-grown plants, vegetables and soft fruits such as raspberries, gooseberries and strawberries as a priority.
However, he noted that established trees and shrubs can be left to push their roots deeper into the soil for moisture. Lawns, he said, are the first to suffer but also the first to recover after rain. “A scorched lawn never looks good, but you can console yourself with the fact that you are being a responsible gardener,” he added.
Titchmarsh also listed drought-tolerant plants that need little water, including catmint, ponytail grass, rock rose, sea holly, sedum and agapanthus. Mediterranean shrubs like lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme are naturally adapted to dry conditions, he noted, provided they are deep-rooted in suitable soil.
