Gardening jobs this month: June

What to do in the garden in June from the gardening experts of House Beautiful, Prima and Country Living

From Country Living gardening editor Stephanie Donaldson:

 

● Sow freshly collected seed from forget-me-not, foxglove, aquilegia and hellebore

 

● Plant outdoor tomatoes in their final positions

 

● Pick gooseberries firstly as thinnings for stewing

 

● Feed asparagus with a mixture of fish, blood and bone after the final cut

 

● Prune non-fruiting laterals on grapevines to five leaves, and fruiting laterals to two leaves beyond the cluster

 

● Enjoy the roses; they're at their best this month

 

 

 

From Prima gardening expert Ann-Marie Powell:

 

● Apply or top up mulches in your flowerbeds and containers.

 

● Water your plants in hot spells. A good soak every couple of days
will be more beneficial than frequent quick sprinkles.

 

● Fill gaps in your borders.

 

● Tie in climbing and rambling roses as near to horizontal as possible. This will restrict sap flow, causing more side shoots to grow along the length of the stem. That way, more flowers will be produced.

 

● Sow French, broad and runner beans, peas, squash, sweetcorn and outdoor cucumbers directly into prepared beds outside.

 

● Hoe off weeds between crops in the vegetable garden.

 

● Pinch out the shoot tips on summer bedding to encourage strong, bushy plants.

 

● Thin out early sowings in the vegetable garden.

 

● Clean out pond filters.

 

● A high-potash liquid fertiliser will feed annual bedding, tomatoes and perennials.

 

● Check regularly for pests and diseases. Look out for aphids on soft new growth, spraying them off with a strong jet of water, squashing or picking them by hand, or use a suitable insecticide (including soft soap).

 

 

 

From House Beautiful's Natalie Flaum:

● Enjoy the garden at its most exuberant. Roses are at their best so remember to deadhead when necessary to encourage flowers later.

 

● Hoe borders regularly. It'll keep any weeds in check.

 

● Now the threat of frost has passed, put out baskets, containers and
summer bedding plants. Keep an eye on tall plants and stake them before they grow too much.

 

● Cut the lawn once a week but not too closely so it can cope with a drought better.

 

● Shade greenhouses during prolonged periods of sunshine to prevent plants inside from scorching.

 

● Pinch out side shoots on your tomato plants to encourage a better crop.

 

● Harvest lettuces, radishes and other salads you've planted earlier,
and early potatoes. Sow more of these and other fast-growing crops for a constant supply through summer. 

 

---

You might also like...

Get more gardening advice here: planting ideas, expert ideas and inspiration