Horticulture experts at GardeningExpress.co.uk are advising gardeners on which plants are worth salvaging and which are unlikely to survive the rising temperatures and lack of rain.
Some parts of the UK have found themselves in drought status as gardeners grapple with which plants will survive the heatwave and which are long gone. This summer has seen nothing but seemingly endless days of dryness, with the driest July on record, at just 7%.
Plants Most Likely to Struggle
According to the experts, established perennials, trees and shrubs are those more likely to survive the drought-like conditions, but anything planted recently will struggle to keep up with the prolonged heat.
You may even notice signs of heat damage through scorched leaves or the early dropping of leaves, but that may not be anything too serious and may merely be superficial damage. Many plants can be revived through deep watering, mulching, deadheading and pruning, but for some varieties, the heat will have diminished all chances of survival.
Popular summer plants that won't quite make the cut despite their stunning colour are rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. They are acid-loving evergreen shrubs that thrive within moisture and heavily rely on rainfall for growth and development, so this heat is a big no-go for them.
Container Plants and Vegetables at Risk
Other plants expected to have low chances of survival are any form of container plants and hanging baskets. It's likely that unless you've been actively watering them, these plants will be crispy and wilted by now, and at this point, there's nothing you can do.
Vegetables are another form of plant; once they've 'bolted', there's no way of reviving them. Bolting is when a plant grows a tall flower stalk and produces seeds too early; this typically tastes bitter and woody and is not something you'd want in your fridge at your home.
Plants That Will Bounce Back
Although there are several plants that will have a chance of survival, and so they are the ones to tend to once the weather settles. Grass is one of them; despite lawns looking the most hard done by in the heat, they will bounce back after a "decent spell of rain" and be a thriving green again.
Established perennials, shrubs and trees, due to their deep-rooted systems, should recover once the weather cools down and they become well-watered. Any signs of 'death' should just be aesthetics and nothing too harmful to the large plants themselves; just give them some time.
Rose bushes and plants will be under severe stress, but as you notice dropped leaves and buds, you mustn't set into panic mode. After consistent rain and watering, they will bounce back soon enough.
Horticulturist Chris Bonnett summarised: "This summer has been unlike any other. The heat has been intense, but more alarming has been the lack of rain – and our gardens have really taken a hit.
"As a general rule, those plants more recently added to your garden are those least likely to survive. They won’t have the root systems of more established plants and will be less likely to recover from the drought conditions.
"Established plants may look beaten by the weather right now – there are lots of brown lawns, dropping and dead leaves and lots of dead blooms – but they will recover with gentle care and pruning and once we get some rain."
