A coalition of British horticultural and heritage bodies is building a free online tool to help gardeners judge which plants are likely to cope with the climate expected in their area, The Guardian reports. The Garden Climate Assessment Tool is being developed by the Future National Gardens Group, whose members include the Royal Horticultural Society, the National Trust, English Heritage and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Users will be able to enter a list of plants, and the tool will weigh factors such as average temperature, winter cold, dryness and each species' natural range. Professional gardeners were asked to trial it on Monday. No release date has been set, though the RHS said it hopes to open it to the wider public eventually. Supporters say the aim is to help people plan climate-resilient gardens rather than react to losses.
Source: The Guardian