The gardeners adapting to record-breaking heat

Prolonged spells of hot and dry weather are changing the way gardens attractions are managed for their visitors.

"It is tough," Chris Koritsas, senior gardener at York Gate Garden in Leeds.

The gardens, which are open to the public, are located in the village of Adel.

"We pivot and alter and try and promote structure," says Chris as he strolls through the wild meadow.

Usually the meadow is a verdant oasis at this time of year, but following one of the hottest summers on record, it has turned golden in the sun sooner than expected.

"You are looking more at seed heads than you are pretty foliage."

To the delight of more than 3,000 visitors per year, Chris and the team are managing to maintain borders, despite the heat, with a little creativity.

Hostas are now soaking in Venetian cisterns, providing a lagoon for the shade-loving perennials.

"Thankfully, the slugs have not yet learned to swim," Chris laughs.

A canopy has been erected over flowers available for purchase, offering much-needed shade; a vital solution according to Chris, who adds that sales on pot plants are down in the heat.

"It is a real struggle, people cannot get into their soil because it is rock hard.

"People are not buying plants and we feel that impact.

"We are actually just taking pots, cutting off all the foliage in the hopes that later down the year we can get it flowering again ready to sell."

Choosing drought-tolerant plants is key to keeping beds breathtaking, according to Chris.

York Gate's Mediterranean herb garden is thriving with plants accustomed to warmer climates and the team is saving seeds from parent stems to pass down traits that will ensure they flourish for years to come.

The surprising sand garden is a star of their setting; featuring Agave and Cacti native to South America.

"It has not really missed a beat," beams Chris.

"It is down to the mulch layer of sand - if you were to dig down you would start to hit moisture, the plants find where the moisture stays in the summer and put roots."

York Gate's sand garden has inspired estates such as RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate, which has established its own in the last few months.

"This area was where we used to grow a lot of our pumpkins, but we were struggling every year to keep them watered," says curator Fiona Slight.

"Everything has been in for about eight weeks and you can see it is already starting to flush.

"It can show you what plants can survive in a very dry conditions."

As well as selecting sand-loving species, succulents are also providing Harlow Carr with vibrant displays.

"The weather has suited them beautifully; this is the best year we have had with them.

"When I first started, this was a house plant. It just shows how climate has changed."

The team, which supplies vegetables to the on-site restaurant, is also experimenting with species such as Okra, a plant originally native to Africa.

While the experts manage soaring temperatures on a mass scale, Fiona insists many of their solutions can be replicated at home.

Terracotta pots, which you can buy for less than the price of a cup of coffee, are among her suggestions to support our own borders.

Water seeps from the pot slowly, providing targeted watering for prized plants.

While the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is a charity steeped in history, the team in Harrogate is also future-focused.

Acutely aware of challenges warming temperatures pose, they have been researching and testing new trees.

"In 90 years, birches, oaks and beech may start to struggle, we are looking at growing different types of trees from other parts of the world that might work well.

"We are using our facilities to be able to help with climate change to see what is going to work that will help inform people in their own gardens," Fiona adds.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

'Our drought garden has never looked better than in the heatwave'

The gardener growing bananas - in Wakefield