Gardeners' World presenter Jamie Butterworth has warned that thousands of newly planted trees will not have survived this summer's exceptional heat and drought, challenging the belief that deep roots keep trees safe in a heatwave.
Following what many would describe as the hottest summer in living memory, numerous gardeners are surveying parched lawns and withered plants. However, at least our trees will pull through, as their extensive root systems will tap into underground water reserves. Or so we believed.
Horticultural expert and BBC Gardeners' World presenter Jamie Butterworth reveals that all trees, particularly younger specimens that haven't yet developed deep root networks, can be severely affected during periods of extreme heat.
Thousands of newly planted trees lost
"The biggest killer of new trees is lack of water," he writes in The Times, "and the reality is thousands of newly planted trees will not have made it through this summer."
Jamie adds that he had witnessed numerous birch trees perishing as a consequence of this summer's exceptional hot, arid weather: "Some of the most iconic native British trees birch, silver birch and beech are really struggling," he says.
To safeguard your garden against the warmer summers anticipated later this decade, Jamie suggests several drought-resistant varieties including honey locust, maidenhair, Persian ironwood, giant redbud, silk tree, strawberry tree and osmanthus. Nevertheless, he cautions, if you're cultivating them in pots they absolutely require watering so you'll remain vulnerable to hosepipe restrictions.
Exotic trees can thrive in UK
Another gardening misconception that Jamie is eager to challenge is the notion that exotic trees struggle in UK gardens: "You can grow Szechuan peppers or peach trees very happily in the UK."
He notes that they will even thrive in a container. "Especially in this hot weather they will be absolutely loving it."
Encouraging gardeners to be adventurous and attempt cultivating a fruit tree, Jamie adds: "There's nothing better than the taste of a fresh peach picked from your own garden, or apricot, or whatever it is. Just train them up a sheltered sunny wall."
Watering advice and legal risks
To help your trees withstand the hot weather, water them thoroughly once or twice weekly rather than providing frequent shallow watering. Apply a generous layer of organic mulch to maintain cool roots, and take particular care with young trees that haven't yet developed deep root systems.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advises that there is likely to be a greater risk of trees spontaneously dropping limbs as they find it harder to get enough water. The society warns that gardeners are liable in law for damage arising from trees and should ensure their insurance covers damage caused by falling limbs.
In addition to hotter, drier summers, we should equally brace ourselves for considerably wetter winters. The Woodland Trust recommends that trees can serve a crucial function in preventing flooding.
A leafy canopy will reduce the force of rainfall on the ground, while enabling a substantial proportion of that rainfall to evaporate back into the atmosphere directly from the treetops, without ever making contact with the ground. Tree root systems can further assist water in penetrating deeper into the soil at a greater rate beneath and around trees. This results in reduced surface run-off and enhanced water retention within the soil.
