The death of the English garden as global warming forces tropical growth

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Gardeners are increasingly turning to less thirsty species such as palm trees and banana plants which would have perished in previous years.

Water shortages are the chief concern of gardeners worried about the future effect of global warming on their gardens.

Old favourites, such as delphiniums and lupins which rely on plenty of moisture in the soil, are on the decline.

The survey of 1,000 gardeners found that many had already seen signs of climate change in their flower beds and lawns.

Sixty per cent of respondents had noticed spring bulbs blooming earlier. Almost half had started mowing their lawns earlier and a third said they needed to mow more frequently.

The survey was carried out by the Waste and Resources Action Programme, a governmentfunded body working to encouragerecycling.

Celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin said: 'We are all now much more aware of climate change and gardeners are in a better position than most to notice how things are changing literally in their own backyards.

"Snowdrops came out very early this year and I've started to cut the lawn earlier than I did last year."

Water shortages are the chief concern of gardeners worried about the future effect of global warming on their gardens.

More than a third, 35 per cent, believed some native plants may no longer flourish, including delphiniums and lupins.

Experts say summer temperatures in England are expected to be up to three degrees warmer by 2050 with 35 per cent less rainfall.

Some have said that parts of England could resemble the Mediterranean scenes painted by Van Gogh, with fields of sunflowers becoming common along with palms.