It's the height of summer and gardens across the country are in full bloom. But while you might be daydreaming about all the lovely plants you're going to add in August to keep the show going, one garden designer says: hold your ho(rs)es.
According to Pollyanna Wilkinson, multi-award-winning landscaper, author of How to Design A Garden and Chelsea Flower Show veteran, now is the "absolute worst time to plant a garden."
"Summer is the most challenging time of year to plant because your plants are in active growth," she tells Country Living. "They’re producing new leaves and flowers whilst also losing lots of water through their foliage which means they need a lot of water to keep them happy."
The problem isn't, of course, that plants need a lot of water. It's that there's a desperate lack of it. In fact, we've seen so little rain in recent months that within the past week both England and Wales entered drought status.
But it's not just the ongoing dry spell (Wisley in Surrey has had 43 consecutive days without rain). To make matters worse, hosepipe bans have been introduced across large parts of both nations since the beginning of July – making watering our gardens all the more tricky.
That said, it's still entirely possible to plant late-blooming coneflowers, towering hollyhocks and spindly verbena, provided you're prepared to commit to a rigorous irrigation routine via a watering can ("Not me planting another echinacea for the bees," one rebellious wildlife advocate commented under Pollyanna's recent Instagram post).
But if you're after the ideal planting window, Pollyanna's advice is simple: wait another two months.
"The optimal time to plant is between October and April," she says. Cooler temperatures mean plants lose less water and are less likely to suffer heat stress, making it easier for them to establish. As above-ground growth slows, they can focus on developing strong root systems before putting on vigorous new growth in spring.
Determined to spend the remainder of the summer among their flower beds (or planting for pollinators)? You absolutely can – just be prepared to see out the rest of the season with a watering can in hand. Then again, for passionate gardeners, there are worse ways to pass the time.
Summer gardening edit
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Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
