The heat is continuing and we could face drought and hosepipe bans this summerNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)08:36, 27 May 2026Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has listed the plants you could 'sacrifice' this month after record high temperatures, sparking fears there could soon be hosepipe bans. Several water companies introduced temporary use bans at the end of 2025, and the start of 2026, and record May temperatures could put water levels across the UK at risk.‌The Met Office said Tuesday was the hottest day in May on record for both England and Wales, with Kew Gardens provisionally reaching 35.1C and Cardiff Bute Park reaching 32.9C.‌The country is already seeing an escalation in drought conditions, with water shortages across the country in 2025 being declared a “nationally significant incident” based on the number of areas affected and widespread damage inflicted on the environment and agriculture.‌The dry conditions hit crop yields, affected the breeding patterns of some animals, harmed wetlands and river ecosystems, increased the wildfire risk and prompted several areas to impose hosepipe bans.Alan said everyone should be using water butts under every downpipe to catch as much rainwater as possible, and issued a warning about sprinklers - because they use so much water.‌But he also said there are some plants we can stop watering if water runs short. Writing on Garden Collective he said: "There is no doubt that we need to prioritise and stop watering willy-nilly." Alan added: "Newly planted trees, shrubs, perennials and the like all need watering during dry spells at least in their first year of establishment."Alan also recommends, after watering thoroughly, covering the bare soil with two inches of mulch - chipped bark, compost or manure.Turning to plants you don't necessarily need to water, he said established trees and shrubs can 'be encouraged to push their roots further down into the soil to access moisture'‌Alan said: "Container-grown plants are obviously a priority, as are vegetables and soft fruits such as raspberries, gooseberries and strawberries."But he said you can leave the lawn, adding: "Grass is the shallowest rooting of plants and, therefore, the first thing to suffer in a drought. But it is also the first thing to recover come a shower of rain." Alan said: "A scorched lawn never looks good, but you can console yourself with the fact that you are being a responsible gardener and marshalling your water resources sensibly."Article continues belowIn a video on his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh channel, Alan listed plants that need little water to survive. He included Catmint Purrsian Blue, Stipa tenuifolia - or ponytail grass, Cistus pulverulentus Sunset, Helianthemum The Bride, Eryngium Magical White Lagoon - or sea holly, Sedum Sunsparkler Plum Dazzled and Agapanthus Ever Sapphire.According to makewaterfamous there are plants that can survive without extra water. They wrote: "Forsythia... keeps growing and photosynthesising even when soil moisture becomes limited, gambling that it can regrow after damage. This makes it remarkably drought-tolerant. It is also tolerant of heavy pruning which can save it in severe conditions."Mediterranean shrubs like lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme are naturally adapted to dry conditions. Their grey, hairy or waxy leaves are evolved to conserve moisture. Soil conditions are crucial though. If the plants are deep rooted they will draw water up, but if your soil is shallow or compacted they might well be less drought tolerant."