How to Prepare Your West London Garden for the Challenges of a Changing Climate

As Ealing based garden designer, I discuss the climate resistant garden design with my clients on daily basis.

We tend to associate climate change with heat and drought. The truth is that it is not so simple. In the last few years, we have gradually observed the breakdown of the natural seasonal weather patterns we once knew in what was widely considered Northern Europe: cold, dry winters, refreshing springs, warm but not extreme summers and blissful autumns.

Trees and wooden fences will keep your garden relaxing and cooler in hot weather.

In 2023, in West London, we had about 179 days of rain, 43 days with temperatures over 25°C and 9 days with extreme temperatures over 30°C. In 2024, respectively, 177 days of rain, 30 days over 25°C and 11 days over 30°C. In 2025, it rained for 141 days, which were followed by the driest Spring on record, with drought continuing in many parts of England until autumn. That year also brought 58 days over 25°C and a staggering 16 days over 30°C. So far in 2026, we have already had 40 rainy days in West London (as of 16 February). In other parts of the country, the rain has been even more relentless, causing floods and structural damage to buildings and roads.

We can all observe that nature is confused, with spring appearing at least a month too early. I found a peony sprouting in my garden a good month too early, while my roses were in bloom until December and hydrangeas started producing new leaves in November.

This has implications not only for our domestic gardens but also for wider agriculture, where many crops require a period of dormancy and frost during winter in order to sprout properly.

So how do we prepare our gardens for the effects of these changes? And how can we use our gardens to make a difference, one postage-stamp space at a time? As they say, “it is just one plastic straw,” said ten million people, but we can turn it around by trying to improve things one small rectangle of greenery at a time.

Here are seven things you can do in your garden to do your bit for the environment.

1.        Respect Water

Water management is key. The problem with excessive rain is that it has to go somewhere. We are no longer allowed to channel water from more than 5m² of surface, such as a patio, into rainwater drains, as it contributes to flooding.

When you look at all the tiled and concreted drives and front gardens in West London, you can only despair at how much precious water flows straight into the sewage system. If you are redesigning your garden, always aim to channel as much water as possible into your flower beds. Ask your landscaper to create your patio so that it gently slopes away from the house by about 1cm per linear metre, allowing water to be directed into planting areas.

Install water butts wherever you can. The age of the ugly black water butt is over, they now come in many colours and shapes, can fit neatly between bifold doors and fences, in side alleys, or even double as large planters. Harvest that water for the time when your garden needs it most. It is far better for your plants than treated tap water.

For periods of drought, which are happening more often, along with hosepipe bans in a country where it rains for six months of the year, consider investing in an automated watering system. A drip irrigation system can keep your flower beds alive with just a few minutes of watering each night, reducing water use by up to 70% compared to watering with a hose or watering can. Forget about watering established lawns in summer; they will recover when the rain returns (unless the lawn has been freshly laid, in which case you are usually exempt from hosepipe restrictions for the first six weeks).

2.        Plant Trees

Planting trees is another powerful solution. Trees regulate water in the soil, help prevent flooding and keep your garden cool. During a heatwave, the temperature on your patio can be 15–20°C cooler under a tree than in full sun. Shade is becoming a valuable commodity in our gardens.

However, always check what you are planting and how close it is to your house. That delicate bay tree or eucalyptus can grow surprisingly quickly to 20–30 metres tall and cause serious problems in a small urban garden. Always check the mature height and aim for medium-sized trees that will reach around 6 metres within ten years.

Tree can keep the surface of your patio up to 25 degrees cooler during heatwave.

3.        Avoid Plastic

Avoiding plastic in your garden will also help keep it cooler. If environmental arguments or concerns about microplastics do not resonate, perhaps the numbers will. At 35°C, artificial grass can reach surface temperatures of 50–70°C, while natural lawn remains around 25–35°C.

Dark composite fencing can heat up to 45–65°C and reflect that heat back into the garden, whereas a wooden fence will typically stay between 30–40°C and will not radiate heat in the same way.

In an enclosed urban West London garden dominated by plastic materials, the air temperature can be on average 5°C hotter than in a garden with natural planting and timber fencing, and up to 30°C hotter at surface level compared to a natural garden shaded by generous tree canopy. Plastics also retain heat, meaning there is little respite in the evening.

Natural lawn keeps your garden cooler than plastic astroturf.

4.        Plant wisely

Drought-tolerant plants can suffer after six months of rain, while thirsty plants struggle during prolonged dry spells. The key is balance. All plants need at least three years to establish properly, and they require extra care during that time.

A watering system, regular mulching, weeding and gentle feeding will produce strong, resilient plants that can better cope with climate extremes.

Hydrangeas, for example, are very thirsty and struggle in heatwaves, so they should be planted in shadier areas away from heat-retaining surfaces. Roses are remarkably resilient and, with regular pruning and care, tolerate frost, rain and moderate drought. Hebe copes well with both rain and dry spells but can be damaged by temperatures below –10°C. Lavender remains an excellent choice for sunny gardens, provided it is planted in the ground with at least six hours of direct sunlight. Other reliable options include spring bulbs, Trachelospermum, Euonymus and Phormium.

Climate change resistant planting does not have to be boring!

5.        Prepare the base

Preparing the soil is essential, especially in West London where heavy clay is common. Many gardeners blame clay for plant failure, but in reality it is extremely fertile. With proper preparation and maintenance, its disadvantages can be mitigated.

Improve drainage before planting by incorporating plenty of high-quality compost and some grit or gravel into the soil. Avoid planting very young, weak specimens; allow plants to develop strong root systems before planting out. Once planted, apply a minimum 10cm layer of bark mulch over the bed to prevent the soil from drying out and hardening.

6.        Look after your lawn wisely

Ongoing lawn care also plays a role. Aerate, weed and fertilise your lawn in spring so it is strong going into drought periods and can recover quickly when the rain returns. Aeration reduces compaction and improves drainage during wet months. Mow every two weeks to prevent clumping, or consider investing in a robotic mower for consistent maintenance. If your lawn sits on heavy clay and was not properly prepared, you can apply agricultural gypsum in spring to help improve soil structure without damaging the grass, reducing water retention during rainy periods and crusting in heatwaves.

7.        Don’t overdo it

Finally, do not over-manicure your garden. The more controlled and rigid a garden is, the more exposed it becomes to climate stress. Allow plants to grow more naturally and fill spaces in a less uniform way. This reduces maintenance, creates more shade, supports pollinators and birds, and builds resilience into your garden ecosystem.

Climate change is not a distant concept; it is already reshaping our West London gardens. But each of us can make a difference, one small rectangle of green at a time.

Happy Gardening!