July 2026 was the hottest and driest July on record. Many traditional perennials have withered and died. Deciduous trees are shedding their leaves to preserve their strength. With hose pipe bans and no discernible rain in the south for at least two months, the garden is parched and showing signs of stress.
So, as autumn approaches, it’s time to take stock. As it’s unlikely that our summers are going to get any cooler, we are going to have to adapt our planting schemes to suit these new conditions. The obvious choice would seem to be Mediterranean shrubs, such as lavender and rosemary, which thrive in hot, dry conditions. However, with our increasingly wet winters, many of these drought tolerant plants will perish because their roots rot in our heavy, waterlogged soil.
Keeping the garden going during these prolonged heat waves has certainly been a learning curve. Consequently, I have come up with a plan to future proof the garden. But first, the caveats. Mulch your borders thoroughly every year; this nourishes impoverished soil and keeps moisture in. Second, install an irrigation system. This may sound counterintuitive, but in fact, smart water timers save resources during shortages by delivering precise amounts. And third, install as many water butts as you can accommodate.
Foliage First
Throughout this summer, while flowers have come and gone, shrubs have provided constant impact with the minimum of fuss. Shrubs add structure and definition to your borders for all four seasons of the year, and once established, will require the minimum of fuss. Here are my top five, all round good doers that will take all that the elements can throw at them:
Five Shrubs That Make a Scene
1. Pittosporum
My number one is Pittosporum, evergreen shrubs and small trees known for their small, glossy leaves, dark stems, and compact shape. Irene Paterson has grey-green leaves flecked with white and will grow into a small tree if left to its own devises but can be pruned into a neat shape for mid-border. Tom Thumb forms a rounded shape, to about 1m tall, with magnificent burgundy leaves, erupting with new, lime green foliage in spring. Diminutive Bannow Bay is perfect for a container or front of border, a small round habit, with violet to grey green leaves that need no pruning or shaping. These versatile shrubs are a great foil for boisterous, colourful perennials such as salvias and rudbeckias in the summer, or with ornamental grasses for a more subtle paired down look. They provide much needed structure and colour in the winter months and are happy in full sun or part shade. The best time to prune pittosporum is in mid-to-late spring. Light maintenance and hedge trimming can continue through the summer until August.
2. Nandina
Number two is Nandina, commonly known as Sacred or Heavenly Bamboo, although it is no relation. Nandina Domestica is an elegant, upright evergreen shrub of about 1.5m tall, with bamboo-like leaves that emerge with a purple hue, turning to green, then fiery red, with white summer flowers, and bright red winter berries. Smaller varieties are perfect punctuation marks for the front of borders. They also thrive in containers, alongside ferns: Vivid green Lemon-Lime, flaming Fire Power, and delicate, variegated pink and cream Twilight are surefire winners. There’s a variety to suit all aspects of your garden. No pruning required.
3. Mahonia
Third on my list is Mahonia. We may all be familiar with that stalwart of the dry shade border, Mahonia Charity, with its stiff, spiny leaves. But I’m talking about Mahonia Soft Caress, a different ball game altogether! This compact, award-winning evergreen shrub is famous for its unique, spineless, arching, bamboo-like blue-green leaves. Reaching a height of about 1.5m, it produces the characteristic upright spikes of fragrant, bright yellow flowers from late summer through autumn, followed by powdery blue-black berries. Happy in full sun right through to full shade, although it performs best in dappled or light shade. Pair it with ferns, dogwoods and sarcococca. No pruning required.
4. Berberis
Number four is Berberis. Although deciduous, berberis is grown for its attractive, ruby leaves, which turn a glowing rich red in autumn. Most popular is berberis thunbergii Atropurpurea. With its elegant arching stems and compact habit, it is perfect for adding structure and seasonal interest to gardens of all sizes. If left unpruned, it will develop delicate, pale yellow flowers, which provide an early source of nectar for pollinators, followed by glossy, bright red berries that provide food for the birds in winter. Dark burgundy, columnar Helmond Pillar is a perfect specimen shrub for added drama in your border or in a large container. Plant a pair either side of a path or entrance for maximum visual impact. Mature width 0.7m by up to 2m tall. Dwarf lime green berberis Tiny Gold grows to only 0.5m by 0.5m, making it ideal for containers or the front of a border, against a backdrop of rich, deep purples. Berberis prefer full sun to part shade.
5. Hydrangea Quercifolia Little Honey
And finally, last but not least, Hydrangea Quercifolia Little Honey. A deciduous shrub, this oakleaf hydrangea has deeply lobed, chartreuse leaves in spring and summer, which turn flame red in autumn. It produces clusters of cone shaped, white flowers in summer. Although it can tolerate full sun, it will thrive in part to full shade. Growing to 1.5m tall by 1.5m wide, it can be pruned in early spring to keep it more compact. Its vivid, lime green foliage will light up the shadiest corner, and it looks good with variegated shrubs like euonymus.
Beat the Heat
My final piece of advice may seem quite off piste. If the new look gravel garden, popularised as a result of our increasingly hot summers, isn’t for you – and it’s not for me – then create more shade in your garden. This summer I have found it easier to maintain my shady border than its opposite number in full sun. The plants in the shade required less water and flowered for longer. Granted, they are not as colourful, but a pastel and white colour palette is very calming in this heat. Plant a small tree to create some much-needed shade.
All these shrubs are tried and tested by me. I’m all in favour of finding ways to reduce the workload and save effort. Whether your garden is in sun or shade, these five shrubs are very versatile and low maintenance; they won’t let you down.Use Heading 2 for headings and Heading 3 for Subheadings to keep your article easy to read.
