The garden in June: Tips for what to do this month.

Lawn

Feed your lawn with Spring and Summer food it you didn't get chance to last month. Mow it at least once a week with the blades set pretty low but if the weather is dry, use a medium setting.

Annuals

Still a good time to plant out bedding plants, but keep them watered on a regular basis to stop them drying out.

Bulbs

Bulbs can be lifted now if they have become overcrowded. Split them then replant in separate places.

Pools and water plants

Top up small water features as necessary. If the weather is warm the water will evaporate quickly so don't let the pump run dry. If you have a pond with no fountain and with fish, top up with tap water in order to oxygenate it. Clear blanket weed from the water surface.


Trees and Shrubs

Shrubs which have finished flowering maybe pruned now for example, flowering currant, Kerria, Weigelas, Philadelphus and Deutzias. Spray roses against pests and diseases if necessary. Frost damage can be pruned out of evergreen shrubs.

New shoots on trees that were cut back in the winter to stimulate new growth can be checked and where the stems cross, the worst can be removed to prevent disease and new growth from getting overcrowded.


Fruit

Check gooseberry bushes for sawfly and mildew. If your apple trees drop fruit this month, don't worry too much as this is nature's way of thinning out the crop so the fruit which is left is bigger.


Vegetables

Plant Leeks, Brussels Sprouts, Winter Cabbages and Sprouting Broccoli this month. earth up potatoes when the foliage gets to around 23cm or so. 


Herbaceous

Cut back spring flowering perennials to encourage a new flush of growth (Helleborus, Pulmonaria and Doricum etc.) This keeps the plants compact and will enable them to flower better next year.

Dead head flowering perennials such as Lupinus or Delphiniums. Hostas can be split if they are overcrowded.

Taller perennials may need staking.


Hedges

Evergreen hedges can be clipped this month (Yew, Privet, Box, Leylandii etc.). Afterwards, give a light feed of multi purpose plant food. 


Pests and Diseases

Keep your eyes open for Vine weevil larvae in pots. If you have a greenhouse, watch out for whitefly, thrips and greenhouse spider mite and other beasties! Keeping the greenhouse clean and tidy will help keep pests and diseases down to a minimum. Remove any mouldy or leaves which are yellowing in order to prevent the spread of grey mould and other diseases. Slugs and snails are a real menace this time of year... water in the mornings to keep them discouraged, other than that, out at night with a torch and a bucket of salt!

General

• Keep watering hanging baskets and containers. They will soon dry out and die if you don't keep your eye on them.
• Keep the weeds down by hoeing the borders.
• Put shade on greenhouses to keep them from overheating and scorching plants.

The garden advice and plant information above has been created as accurately as possible, but localised weather conditions and yearly variations in climate mean that information should be used as a general guide only and acted upon accordingly.

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