A spectacular surge of colour is set to sweep across gardens after April's cold spell held back blooms by three weeks, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has found.
According to the horticultural charity, a "seasonal compression" effect could result in spring and summer flowers blossoming together in a "colourful crossover" as temperatures soar in the coming days — but it won't last long.
While April's cold nights and lack of heavy rain helped preserve spring favourites such as daffodils, tulips and cherry blossom, this new sunny spell could cause late spring and summer flowers to bloom together in one stellar display.
"With so much growth and flowering held up by the cold April nights, the flowering and growing season can be compressed," says Guy Barter, RHS Chief Horticulturist, explaining the compression effect.
"This means that when the weather turns around, all the pent-up growth and flowers will come out in a rush leading to a brief but colourful crossover of spring and summer flowers."
The colourful phenomenon arrives just in time for the first visitors to enjoy at RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford, which opens on Tuesday 18th May. Curator Marcus Chilton-Jones planted around 80,000 bulbs to fill the new beds and borders with spring colour, but the expected sunshine could see summer herbaceous plants and shrubs burst into bloom, too.
Meanwhile, over at RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate, the flowering season is running as much as three weeks behind, with tulips and daffodils still in bloom. "The cooler weather has definitely boosted the displays of Erythronium (dog's tooth violet) and Trillium in our woodland," Paul Cook, curator at Harlow Carr says. "However, if we have a sudden spell of hot weather, it could see them off in a matter of days."
At RHS Garden Hyde Hall, visitors can expect to see more than 240 varieties of spring-flowering pansies, as well as the first of the garden's roses. Due to the changes in weather, crabapple blossom has also had an exceptional season this year, with air frosts helping them to bloom for longer.
Keep an eye open in your garden for the colourful displays...
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17 best gardening tools to buy now including spades, trowels and rakes
Give your garden plants some love this summer with this useful multi-tool. Finished in titanium with brass fixings, this tool features six different functions including secateurs, a root remover, knife, saw, bottle opener and an easy weeding utensil.
Protect your knees when gardening with this practical green kneeler and seat. It has been made with steel tubes and comfortable polypropylene foam so you can garden comfortably. There's also a small pouch on the side, making it easy to pop your tools in as you work.
Protect your hands with these practical grey gardening gloves, made from a comfortable nylon and spandex liner. Best suited for potting and pruning, they have breathable lining and a nitrile grip coating.
Developed alongside Kew Garden's horticultural team, this set features a weedfork, hand trowel and transplanting trowel. Ideal if you're on the hunt for a gift.
Crafted from wood and stainless steel, this lovely garden tool set is just what every gardener needs. The leather hooks make it easy to hang up in a shed, while the trowel has been marked in centimetres and inches to make planting easier than ever.
Every garden needs a wheelbarrow. In a classic green, this lightweight style from Argos is ideal for gardening, DIY work and equestrian uses.
With a longer handle to ease back strain, this stainless digging spade has been created for all digging jobs. As well as this, the hardened steel blade is rust-resistant and will hold its edge without regular sharpening. Perfect for every avid gardener.
Keep your plants happy and healthy with this terracotta watering can. Designed by Shane Schneck, it boasts a no-spill lip and a shape that keeps water weight at its base.
Tried and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, this garden fork from Sophie Conran is a stylish addition to any outdoor space. Made of stainless steel with a waxed beechwood handle, it has sharpened tines which cut through hard and soft soil very easily.
When life gives you lemons...buy a stylish kneeler pillow. With a generous size and soft foam filling, you can be sure to tackle those weeds comfortably without any pain.
Looking for some summer seeds? This pack includes thyme, mixed herbs, oregano and summer savoury, too. Ideal to spruce up a tired-looking lawn patch.
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You'll find eight handy tools in this set, including pruning shears, a hand trowel, transplanter, weeder, cultivator, hand rake, gardening gloves and a tote bag. At just £40, it's a real steal buy.
Trim your hedge just as you like with these 66cm topiary shears. Ideal for trimming and shaping, they have narrow pointed blades, rubber shock absorbers and a long length ergonomic design.
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Providing high performance cutting with a clean finish, this grass trimmer from Bosch has an easy edging function which enables quick changes from trimming to edging. Ideal for reaching those tricker spots with ease.
Sweep up leaves and fallen debris with this practical wooden rake from Garden Trading. Crafted from Beech, the strong wooden handle offers support, while the prongs allow for effective raking.
Presented in a beautiful box, this set includes a trowel and secateurs. Featuring artwork from the RHS Lindley Library, they're both a stylish and practical addition to any garden.
This electric lawnmower helps you to cut through long grass with ease, thanks to its innovative inset grass combs and lightweight design.
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
