My Global Garden

A drop of water in London

25. August 2010

http://www.youtube.com/ucltv#p/u/1/4eaIuVqkeT4

The South East is exepcting a stormy and wet night with a severe weather warning issued by the Met Office and up to 8cm (3in) of rain expected to fall as well as fears of flash flooding. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/aug/22/severe-weather-southern-england With heavy rainfall it is a good time to think about the value of harvesting some of this precious [...]

Charles’ Green Garden Party suggests shorter showers

19. August 2010

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Charles’ Green Garden Party suggests shorter showers

Prince Charles is using his new green campaign to urge everyone to take shorter showers. Start, an initiative from the Prince’s Charities Foundation, has published 20 easy ways to go green as part of his 12-day festival of imaginative ways to promote a sustainable future. The list of instructions includes: “Start having shorter showers.” http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23868476-charless-garden-party-to-teach-us-to-be-green-and-take-short-showers.do ANOTHER IDEA IS TO…. RE-USE [...]

How to water gardens wisely

30. July 2010

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HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE SUMMER WATERING TIPS * Water plants thoroughly once a week, to encourage them to send out deep roots. Plants with shallow roots will wilt and die after only a few days of drought, whereas plants with a strong, deep root system will be happy for weeks. *Buy a water butt (or two) [...]

Top plants to beat a hosepipe ban

17. July 2010

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With the driest start to the year for 50 years in the UK, it could be time to think about which plants require less water in your garden. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/7885713/Top-10-plants-to-beat-a-hosepipe-ban.html If you want to discover new ways to save water in your garden, watch this informative video from the National Trust, part of their excellent greener gardening [...]

Rain arrives but not for Spain

13. July 2010

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The rain finally arrived in the SE of England last night after almost a month of drought. As I sit writing this blog there is a sheet of very heavy rain refreshing all my plants and no doubt bringing sighs of relief from gardeners everywhere. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/7884027/Heatwave-at-an-end-as-rain-arrives.html Heavy rain is great for filling water butts - up [...]

NW England endures hosepipe ban

10. July 2010

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After the driest start to the year since 1929, the North West of England has a temporary hosepipe ban imposed since 6.00 am Friday, 9 July. Only half the average amount of rain has fallen in the North West in the last six months, so even though the area was flooded last [...]

UK drought - 1976 memories

6. July 2010

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From 1 January to 28 June 2010 the UK had 356.8 mm of rain, the driest six months since 1929, when 275.7 mm was recorded. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/in-depth/drought.html It is interesting to read this summary of the devastating drought of 1976 published today by the BBC. A timely reminder of the serious effects that drought can have in the UK? http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/understanding/1976_drought.shtml

Why save water?

4. July 2010

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Sizzling temperatures continue in the South East of England and there has no been no significant rainfall for the past few weeks. Here are some key facts about the value of water for the UK in the current heatwave: * London is drier than Istanbul and SE England has less water available per person than Sudan [...]

Hosepipe bans cloud sizzling temperatures

1. July 2010

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Hosepipe bans cloud sizzling temperatures

The english summer is sizzling with Mediterranean-style temperatures - even my bougainvillea is in full flower which is unusually early. The UK just exeprienced the hottest week so far in 2010 and the good news is that these warm conditions are set to continue.Temperatures today are expected to reach 29c across southern England [...]