June heralds the beginning of summer, and with daylight reaching its peak, it’s time to make sure your garden is in tip top shape for the barbeque season.
General jobs to do in the garden:
- Keep the compost flowing by emptying and refilling compost bins.
- Check roses for signs of disease and spray treat.
- Trim fast-growing hedges from now every six weeks, but check for nesting birds first.
- Dig out those pesky perennial weeds.
Jobs to do in the flower garden:
- Prune late-spring or early-summer shrubs and perennials after flowering.
- Support tall-growing perennials and tie in new stems of climbing and rambling roses.
- Continue planting summer bedding, watering regularly.
- Take cuttings from pinks and carnations – non-flowering shoots root the best.
- Feed container displays and hanging baskets every few weeks.
Jobs to do in the fruit and vegetable garden:
- Harvest salads, re-sowing every two weeks and harvest early potatoes
- Protect developing and ripening fruits with netting or fleece.
- Spread mulch around thirsty crops to hold in moisture.
- Water container-planted vegetables and fruit regularly.
- Apply tomato feed regularly to fruiting vegetable crops.
In the greenhouse:
- Check your greenhouse has sufficient shade and ventilation.
- Water houseplants more frequently.
- Put houseplants outside for the summer in a warm but sheltered position.
- Sow biennials, including foxgloves and wallflowers in seed trays.
- Treat pots with vine weevil control; larvae will become active this month.
What to do with the lawn:
- Mow at least once a week to ensure a healthy summer lawn.
- Apply fertiliser – either a 2-3 month slow release spring and summer fertiliser for the season, alternatively use a liquid fertiliser every four to six weeks.
- Apply weed killer to the whole lawn or spot treat for well-kept lawns.
- Repair damage caused by wear and tear by watering, spiking and fertilising heavily used areas. Add grass seed to worn areas.
- Look out for anthills, red thread and dry patches using antkiller, light spiking, water and fertiliser.
