2022 was an odd year from the dry winter through to one of the hottest summers on record. We can clearly see our seasons are changing and the drought last year left many gardens struggling to recover. Many gardeners are now turning to more drought tolerant planting schemes to help combat the dryer weather.

Abelia x grandiflora ‘Glossy abelia’ is a great low maintenance shrub that can survive some of the harshest winters we are likely to face in the UK. It will also thrive in full sun providing a mass of flowers over summer and autumn. The beautiful glossy green foliage will also provide year round colour and give shape and form to a deep bed.

The more naturalistic gardener may prefer to opt for one of the many ornamental grasses which can thrive in dryer conditions. The can range in height from the compact Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ with its cushions of needle like silvery-blue leaves, to the long and leggy Carex ‘Comans Brozne leaved’. This evergreen sedge will grow  up to 60cm tall and forms attractive seed heads amongst the arching bronzed narrow leaves. An additional benefit is the movement and sound of the leaves rubbing past each other in the breeze.

Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’ is a great flower to add a hot pop of colour to any border. At around 50-60cm tall it makes a great contrast plant and will certainly be right at home in a hot border. However, there is no need to rip the whole garden out and start again. By choosing your plants carefully you can add to your current planting scheme replacing those plants which are struggling to cope with the changing weather.