The Great Drought of Spring 2025
It was hard to imagine that after the exceptionally wet winter and very early spring that there would be such a severe drought here.
There has been no significant rain here since the end of Feb, the odd few showers have hardly penetrated the top cm or so of soil. Here we have missed all the thunderstorms and heavy rain experienced in many parts of the U.K.
The sunny, warm and particularly the very many windy days have caused the effects of the drought to be much more serious than it would have been otherwise. So far there have also been 3 periods of officially declared heatwave in this area with temperatures reaching 30degrees.
Almost all newly planted trees and shrubs unless well irrigated are under severe drought stress ( as well as many long established specimens) Without copious irrigation our losses would be huge. The time spent watering is very great ( despite all my stock being planted in the ground) and the water bills will be huge. As in recent other drought years almost the only recently transplanted trees which have grown well without irrigation are Field Maple and its cultivars. Even most species of long established trees ( up to 20 years since transplanting into their permanent positions) are mostly showing signs of severe drought stress. Many old trees nearing the end of their life will undoubtedly have their lives significantly shortened by the drought here this year.
Most species of conifers are shedding abnormal quantities of needles, which gives them a much browner look than usual. This is particularly the case with Sequoia sempervirens but also Yew which is normally a very drought resistant tree, most of my many 30+ year old yew trees are looking sorry for themselves, but assuming we get some moderate rain in the next few weeks I am confident they will survive To adequately water a modest sized tree about 5 metres high and 10-20 years old one can assume that ideally such a tree will have a root spread of about 5 metres diameter. When the ground is bone dry for at least half a metre in depth, as it is here now, then to adequately water such a tree would require half a cubic metre or about 100 gallons of water weekly. This would supply about 25mm or 1 inch equivalent of rain over the assumed 5 metre diameter rootzone.To adequately rewet soil that is bone dry over this area could need 5 to 10 times this much water
This seasons drought is terribly difficult for all farmers and growers in this area.
14.7.25 In the last couple of days following the most recent heat wave when temperatures again touched 30 degrees the leaves of many different species of mature trees planted in the last 30 + years have been shrivelled up as if they have been too close to a bonfire. Some of those affected are Beech, Birch, Hornbeam and several species of poplars and Willows. I have never seen such bad damage before. I believe the trees have completely exhausted the little remaining moisture in the soil and have been unable to keep the leaves cool by transpiration and evaporation of water from the leaf surfaces.
G.L. 13.7.25 (See further notes under “ Tree growers notes” on my website menu sidebar regarding weather during the last 12 months and also drought resistance of various trees)