What This Unusual Cornish Summer Is Teaching Us as Landscape Gardeners
Another day, another Cornish garden. We work across Cornwall helping homeowners create gardens that look good in every season.
"Working in gardens across Cornwall every day gives you a different view of the weather."
If you've lived in Cornwall for any length of time, you'll know our summers usually have a mind of their own.
The schools break up.
The barbecue comes out.
Someone confidently announces we've got "a proper summer this year."
Then, usually by the following Tuesday, you're searching the garage for the waterproofs again.
It's almost become part of living here.
This year, though, has caught a lot of people by surprise.
Instead of the usual mix of sunshine and showers, we've had week after week of dry weather. As landscape gardeners working across Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, Helston and the surrounding areas, we've watched gardens react in ways we don't normally see.
Some plants have thrived.
Others have looked like they've completely given up.
And the phone has rung more than once with the same question.
"Have I killed my lawn?"
The good news is...
Probably not.
After weeks without meaningful rain, many lawns across Cornwall are showing signs of drought stress. Fortunately, most will recover with the right care when wetter weather returns.
Your lawn probably isn't dead
One of the biggest worries this summer has been brown grass.
We've visited plenty of gardens across Cornwall recently where homeowners have apologised before we've even got out of the van.
"Sorry about the lawn..."
Honestly?
There's no need.
Grass is remarkably resilient.
When the weather stays hot and dry for long periods, it naturally slows down and goes dormant to protect itself. It might turn yellow or straw-coloured, but that doesn't usually mean it's dead.
In most cases, once Cornwall returns to doing what Cornwall does best and gives us some decent rain, established lawns recover surprisingly quickly.
That's one of the things years of landscaping gardens in Cornwall teaches you.
Nature usually knows what it's doing.
Good landscaping starts long before the plants go in. Careful ground preparation creates healthier lawns, borders and planting for years to come.
Digging becomes a very different job
People often assume dry weather makes life easier for a landscape gardener.
Sometimes it does.
Sometimes it really doesn't.
After weeks without meaningful rain, the ground becomes incredibly hard. Digging foundations for patios, edging, retaining walls or new borders suddenly takes twice the effort.
There have been a few mornings recently where the soil has felt more like old concrete than Cornish earth.
We'd still choose sunshine over standing in waterproofs all day...
...but every season keeps you on your toes.
New plants need looking after
Mature shrubs and established trees have generally coped well.
It's the new planting that's needed a bit more attention.
Whether we've been landscaping gardens in Falmouth or carrying out planting projects elsewhere in Cornwall, the advice has stayed the same.
A proper soak every few days is far better than a quick splash with the hose every evening.
The water needs to reach the roots, not just dampen the surface.
Early morning or later in the evening is best too, when less water disappears before the plants have chance to use it.
Patios suddenly become the best room in the house
One thing we have noticed this summer...
People are using their gardens far more.
Patios that might normally sit empty until August have been full of barbecues, family meals and evenings spent outdoors.
It's a reminder that good garden landscaping isn't just about making somewhere look nice.
It's about creating spaces people actually enjoy living in.
Whether that's a new porcelain patio, raised beds, better planting or a complete garden transformation, the aim is always the same.
To build a garden that's used rather than simply looked at through the kitchen window.
A porcelain patio designed to become an extension of the home, creating a comfortable space to relax, entertain and enjoy the garden.
Thinking about improving your garden?
Summer is often when people first start planning.
The ideas usually begin while sitting outside.
"That border could be bigger."
"We never use that corner."
"The patio could do with extending."
Even if some planting is better left until autumn, many landscaping projects across Cornwall can carry on throughout the summer.
Patios.
Paths.
Driveways.
Retaining walls.
Garden levels.
They're all the foundations that make a garden work long before the first plant goes in.
Five things we're telling customers this summer
Every garden is different, but we've found ourselves giving the same advice over and over again during the last few weeks.
Water deeply rather than little and often.
Leave your lawn slightly longer during hot weather.
Don't panic if your grass turns brown.
Mulch around new plants to help hold moisture.
If you're planning a bigger garden project, now is a great time to start designing it.
Simple advice.
But it makes a surprising difference.
Every Cornish garden tells a different story
One of the reasons I enjoy being a landscape gardener in Cornwall is that no two gardens are ever quite the same.
A sheltered garden in Falmouth behaves differently to an exposed one near Helston.
A heavy clay garden outside Truro dries out differently to sandy soil closer to the coast.
That's why there's never a one-size-fits-all answer.
Every project starts with standing in the garden, having a chat and working out what will actually suit the people who live there.
That's far more important than following the latest trend.
Cornwall always has the last laugh
If there's one thing experience teaches you, it's this.
Don't panic.
Yes, this summer has been hotter than most of us expected.
Yes, lawns have gone brown.
Yes, watering cans have had a proper workout.
But gardens are incredibly resilient.
Before long we'll probably be wondering if it's ever going to stop raining again.
That's Cornwall.
And, truth be told...
...we wouldn't really want it any other way.
A healthy lawn overlooking the Helford River. Even in a dry Cornish summer, good soil preparation and regular maintenance make a huge difference.
Looking for a landscape gardener in Cornwall?
Whether you're planning a new patio, replacing an old driveway, creating a family-friendly garden or completely transforming your outdoor space, M.L. Rashleigh & Son provides professional landscaping across Falmouth and Cornwall.
We're a family business that believes in doing things properly, taking pride in the details and creating gardens that look just as good years from now as they do on the day we leave.
If you'd like to chat about your ideas, we'd be happy to call in, have a look and offer honest advice. No pressure. No hard sell. Just a conversation about what could work best for your garden.
Tom. 💚
