The Natural Gardener
Ever had daffodils flowering or frogs spawning in your garden in December? Curious novelties though these are, they could be more common happenings in the future due to climate change. I’m sure winters used to be colder, and autumn definitely used to start in September, not October! September’s almost a summer month now, in which we enjoy all those high season blooms and exotics thriving for longer.
But is climate change really a problem for us gardeners? Well, it could be a long-term problem for our flora and fauna, as early fledglings and flowers emerge only to be killed off in a subsequent cold snap. While they’re not unknown to spawn at the same time in the same pond, early newts and toads may end up breeding together more permanently, meaning frogs will become an easy lunch for hungry newts. Hopefully a frog shortage won’t become a reality. Droughts and floods are becoming more extreme, so we’ll have to gradually change the way we garden and what we plant to cope with wild weather.
Last year's State of Nature Report, put together by 50 conservation organisations in the UK, is interesting reading in the post-Christmas lull, and has given me food for thought as we launch into another gardening year. The report tells of swallows arriving earlier, moths declining and aphids increasing due to climate change, plus details of many threatened species. It’s not all bad as it seems we’re all more aware; volunteers dedicated to helping nature have increased.
There’s a lot we can do to help, so perhaps we should all make some resolutions for 2020. Let’s make sure our gardens are full of flowers and food all year so early emerging (or late emerging) pollinators and animals have plenty of food when they need it. Save more water, and plant a few more shrubs and trees to soak up rains and provide shelter for wildlife. We should be vigilant with plant health, as fewer frosts means more pests and diseases lasting longer. Why not also try more perennial fruit and veg on your allotment? Plants such as kale, perennial leeks and onions, perpetual spinach, asparagus and rhubarb save money and use much less water than annual crops.