April was another dry and very mild month. Like March, it is likely to set records in several areas of the UK. Here in Somerset, we had a little rain during the second half of the month.

May tends to be a little wetter than April on average, probably due to the warmer temperatures allowing for heavier showers. I think we will be hoping for some of those this May, as the ground is already very dry. It shows the importance of mulching borders during the spring; it helps retain more moisture and improves the quality of the soil. We often use mushroom compost, but garden compost is also great.

This summer will likely be much warmer and drier than last year, and as our summers become warmer with longer dry spells, we are choosing more drought-resistant plants. These include newer, more resistant roses, or plants like Salvias, catmint, Pittosporum, Euonymus, Agapanthus, Phormiums, Dahlias, Sedums, Rudbeckias, and many more. The key is to dig in plenty of organic matter at the time of planting and water well until established.

That said, we will also see periods of more intense rainfall in summer too, although that is less useful as it runs off more quickly. It is also worth planting more densely to keep the soil covered, as this also helps reduce evaporation.

Jo will be very busy in the Community Garden with our fantastic volunteers. It will be transformed as all the vegetables and flowers are planted out, producing an abundance of vegetables and flowers for cutting from late June right through into September. I always look forward to the delicious sweetcorn!