Gardeners were probably among a very small minority of people who welcomed the recent wet spell.
With most of the UK being buffeted by heavy rain throughout April, there has been no need for people to raid their shed for the watering can. Those who have water butts can also rest assured that they will have plenty of water to last them through the summer. It's crazy to think that hose pipe bans were being enforced just a few weeks ago.
However, it seems that even gardeners have now tired of the constant precipitation. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the wet weather has caused a few problems for green-fingered people. The cold temperatures and constant cloud cover has restricted the amount of light getting through to plants and flowers, resulting in slow spring growth.
Nutrients have also been washed too deep under the soil for new plants to get to and the frosts in early April have certainly not helped matters either. Chief horticultural adviser at the RHS Guy Barter said the conditions have been far from perfect for gardeners.
"The dry and warm conditions in March were ideal for sowing, planting and maintaining lawns. But the wet April and now May has caused concern," he remarked.
"What gardeners ideally need are conditions for good early root growth so that plants are able to seek out water throughout a dry summer," Mr Barter added.
Homeowners who have been dismayed by the poor progress of their plants will be hoping that the UK brightens up soon so they can get to work with their garden tools. The RHS advises that keeping your lawn trim is vitally important and you should be looking to mow the grass as soon as it is dry enough.
Amazingly, despite all the rain, the RHS says water supplies in the long term will remain tight and drought orders will stay in place.
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Recent wet spell has pros and cons for gardeners
With most of the UK being buffeted by heavy rain throughout April, there has been no need for people to raid their shed for the watering can. Those who have water butts can also rest assured that they will have plenty of water to last them through the summer. It's crazy to think that hose pipe bans were being enforced just a few weeks ago.
However, it seems that even gardeners have now tired of the constant precipitation. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the wet weather has caused a few problems for green-fingered people. The cold temperatures and constant cloud cover has restricted the amount of light getting through to plants and flowers, resulting in slow spring growth.
Nutrients have also been washed too deep under the soil for new plants to get to and the frosts in early April have certainly not helped matters either. Chief horticultural adviser at the RHS Guy Barter said the conditions have been far from perfect for gardeners.
"The dry and warm conditions in March were ideal for sowing, planting and maintaining lawns. But the wet April and now May has caused concern," he remarked.
"What gardeners ideally need are conditions for good early root growth so that plants are able to seek out water throughout a dry summer," Mr Barter added.
Homeowners who have been dismayed by the poor progress of their plants will be hoping that the UK brightens up soon so they can get to work with their garden tools. The RHS advises that keeping your lawn trim is vitally important and you should be looking to mow the grass as soon as it is dry enough.
Amazingly, despite all the rain, the RHS says water supplies in the long term will remain tight and drought orders will stay in place.