UK drought: water firms on alert as hosepipe ban fears grow
Government ministers, officials, water firms and other bodies on the national drought group met on Wednesday to discuss the risk of drought this summer. Water company chief executives will attend another meeting in July.
The Environment Agency said that after an 'exceptionally wet' 2024, this year had taken a 'dramatically different turn'. Met Office data shows that the three months from February to April have been the driest in England since 1956.
England experienced its driest March since 1961, recording only a quarter of average rainfall for the month. April had half the usual rainfall.
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Ripening vegetables If you're growing vegetables, prioritise crops approaching harvest and those that split when moisture returns after drought, such as carrots. Runner beans and courgettes need moist soil to keep cropping and potato yields are heavily influenced by water levels. 8. All the pots Anything in pots has limited access to soil moisture reserves and will need regular attention. Move containers to shadier spots if possible. Always use a pot saucer to hold water and prevent it draining away. Plants that can survive without extra water Research into plant water-stress shows that many common garden plants are surprisingly resilient. Forsythia adopts a risk-taking strategy. It keeps growing and photosynthesising even when soil moisture becomes limited, gambling that it can regrow after damage. This makes it remarkably drought-tolerant. It is also tolerant of heavy pruning which can save it in severe conditions. Mediterranean shrubs like lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme are naturally adapted to dry conditions. Their grey, hairy or waxy leaves are evolved to conserve moisture. Soil conditions are crucial though. If the plants are deep rooted they will draw water up, but if your soil is shallow or compacted they might well be less drought tolerant. Sedums, sempervivums and other succulents store water in their fleshy leaves and can survive extended dry periods. RHS research identifies Sedum spectabile as particularly reliable under stress. Ornamental grasses generally have efficient root systems and many species actually prefer drier conditions once established. Established shrubs including cistus, phlomis, buddleja, cotoneaster, berberis and viburnum have deep roots and proven track records for drought survival. The RHS report identifies these as garden stalwarts, with high stress resilience. Some trees, including eucalyptus, bay (Laurus nobilis) and holm oak are remarkably drought tolerant. 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