Monty Don faced warnings from Gardeners' World viewers after he unveiled his plans for his summer garden next year. The 71-year-old horticulture expert returned to BBC Two for the latest edition of the gardening show on Friday, where he addressed the arid conditions caused by the heatwave.
Monty Don's drought plan
Don admitted his current watering regime was unsustainable and that he would use drought-friendly plants next year. Showcasing his sweet peas, he said: "It was another hot, dry summer, and the Sweet Peas hate being too hot and too dry. But sweet peas, I figured, were one of the essentials of life, and that my garden was diminished beyond any bearability if I didn't have it. So we have watered them quite a lot, and that's meant making some hard decisions."
He added: "Like everybody else, we've been short on water and short on time. We haven't had a hosepipe ban, but these need watering every other day to keep them flowering."
Jewel garden plans
Don explained his plans for the jewel garden, which is based around rich colours and exuberant glow. "We need really big dramatic plants so for this year, we'll be using gingers and dahlias and cosmos, but and this is a big but, with the way that the climate's evolving, it means we have to water these pots every other day," he said.
He continued: "I don't think it's sustainable in terms of the environment. So what I'm going to do is plan for next year's pots, not just here in the jewel garden, but all over the garden, which only need watering once a week. That means a totally different palate, a different set of plants, and a different challenge."
Viewers' reactions
Viewers were quick to notice a fatal flaw in his planning and took to X to share it with the BBC host. One quipped: "Monty filling all his pots next year with drought resistant plants. He's going to be fed up when we return to the normal British summer - grey, cool & wet." Another agreed, responding: "Yeh next summer a washout for sure."
A third lamented: "I've got a couple of date and olive trees on the go - just to see where this hot weather takes us. Waiting for the record wet summer next year now." A fourth tried to look on the positive side, sharing: "Monty, there is only one job for the weekend these days 'watering' by hosepipe if we are lucky or with a watering can for many! Always look on the bright side at least the weeding hasn’t been a full time job this summer."
Meanwhile, one viewer revealed they had missed the beginning of the show due to their own plant maintenance. "Late to #GardenersWorld this evening as we were watering courgettes, cosmos and dahlias, and hoping for rain, like everyone else," they wrote.
