We have a south-facing garden, and when real estate agents speak glowingly about a property's “sunny” garden, they get super excited.
But to be honest, it's a good and bad thing: while it's great to have light and warmth in the back of the house, it can get very hot in the middle of summer.
Even Mediterranean plants like rosemary can't handle the heat and the soil dries out quickly, so we have to move the pots on the patio to the back of the garden in the shade. In August, our garden often looks really brown.
As summers get hotter and winters get wetter, gardeners will need to adapt to the different climate in order for their gardens to thrive.
The Royal Horticultural Society, in collaboration with the University of Reading, has produced an excellent guide called Gardening in a Changing Climate.
Dry days in the summer and wet days in the winter are expected to increase, especially in the south.
This sounds very similar to the months of endless rain last winter, with the Met Office recently confirming that climate change is making storms more frequent and intense.
The RHS says this will affect gardeners in a number of ways: warmer springs and autumns will extend the growing season, but heavy rainfall can increase the rate at which nutrients are leached from the soil, longer dry periods will mean more frequent watering, and warmer temperatures will make it easier for pests and diseases to spread.
The book includes some especially useful tips for gardeners, such as installing water tanks to capture rainwater for use during dry periods, avoiding the use of peat, and planting a variety of pollinator-friendly plants that flower at different times.
I asked Leo Jennings and Tim Martin, head ranger and head gardener at Gray's Court, a local National Trust property, what they are doing to adapt to climate change, given their beautiful gardens which we enjoy all summer long.
Tim explained that promoting soil health is a priority: they mulch the soil to retain moisture when wet in preparation for dry periods and to prevent soil nutrients from being washed away.
They minimise their use of municipal water by using water tanks, but they also discovered and are re-using Grays Court's historic underground rainwater harvesting system.
Tim recommends using opaque water storage tanks, as collected rainwater needs to be stored in a cool, dark place to prevent algae growth.
Mature trees are more tolerant of drought, but can still be stressed during long dry periods and become susceptible to disease, so he recommends regular watering.
Leo and his team carry out various climate change mitigation activities in the forest on the property.
They're laying new hedgerows to promote bird and insect habitat and sequester carbon, and any trees that are felled or cut down on the site are chopped up and used as walkways, rather than burned and releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Thinning forest areas rather than clear-cutting them preserves the tree canopy and the natural environment of the forest.
Following RHS recommendations, petrol-powered garden tools are steadily being replaced by electric alternatives.
Gray's Court's beautiful gardens and grounds are well worth a visit and if you're interested in gardening, Tim is looking for a horticulture apprentice – you can apply online at careers.nationaltrust.org.uk
