In June, it’s time to enjoy your summer garden
Top jobs for the month from Mark Sage, Head of Horticulture at Wyevale Garden Centres
Summer’s here and the garden’s looking its best
Part of the pleasure of gardening at this time of year is the chance to sit back, relax with a cooling drink, enjoy the weather and admire the results of your handiwork over the past few months. The season may have been delayed by the uncertain weather. But with the glorious summer months stretching ahead, there’s still oodles of time to plant lots more colour, tend to flowers and shrubs that are already in bloom – and dig in to maximise your veg crops. You’ll find everything you need at your local Wyevale Garden Centre. I hope my jobs for June help you create a summer garden you’ll love.
Water well
It may seem an obvious thing to say, but don’t forget to water regularly at this time of year, especially when the weather is hot.
Most of us tend not to give watering the time it, and our plants, need. So, instead of splashing the hose on your plants for a few minutes every day, plan your watering by dividing your space into different areas and give a different one a long, thorough watering every evening. This will allow the water to really penetrate to the roots. Areas that need most attention will be anything you’ve just planted, pots and hanging baskets and young growing vegetables.
Select summer shades
Summer’s all about colour and beautiful summer bedding. Lobelia and petunia are perfect for pots and hanging baskets – they’ll give you lush displays of gorgeous blooms dramatically cascading down walls, or swaying gently in mid-air.
Quick hanging basket tip: they can dry out really quickly, so water every day and feed with a liquid fertiliser every couple of weeks.
You can also fill any gaps you might have in your borders – the rule is, if there’s a space, there’s room for colour! If the gap is particularly large, why not pop a terracotta pot full of golden marigolds in it? It’ll look great in amongst the more permanent planting.
As well as planting summer bedding, try annuals like dahlia, cosmos and salvia, which will flower in late summer and autumn and extend your flowering display.
If you’re growing taller perennials like hollyhocks, delphiniums and lupins, be sure to support them with strong canes to stop them being knocked over by a sudden summer shower.
The same is true for dahlias. Their flowers can be quite large and cause the plant to droop, so stake them to make sure that they are facing upwards into the sun.
Growing roses? Then spray with a treatment of your choice to avoid common problems like aphids and fungus and be sure to deadhead (remove old flowers) to keep them healthy and encourage the growth of new blooms. Also deadhead perennials, hardy and half-hardy annuals as well as shrubs like rhododendron, camellia and lilac.
Have you mulched?
Everything grows quickly at this time of year – and that includes weeds.
But there is a trick to stopping them. Simply spread a layer of mulch on your beds and borders and around the roots of shrubs and perennials. Mulch can be anything from a layer of compost to bark chippings or farmyard manure – whichever you prefer. Doing this will suppress weed-growth and, handily, also help retain moisture in the ground.
Tend fruit & veg
Now that the risk of frosts has passed, plant out tender young veg like beans, tomatoes and courgettes raised in the greenhouse.
Everyone loves summer fruit and that includes garden birds! So be sure to protect your strawberries, raspberries and other soft fruit by covering with netting.
If you’re growing tomatoes in growbags or the garden, water regularly and give a high-potash feed. Also ‘pinch out’ any small side shoots as they appear – these grow from the main stem at every leaf joint. This ensures a stronger plant and bigger crop.
Mow more
Have you noticed how, in the summer months, your lawn seems to take on a life of its own?
So my best lawncare advice is – don’t put off your mowing for longer than a week. It’s the only way to keep fast-growing grass looking good.
Welcome wildlife
You’re not the only one who loves beautiful blooms.
Bees and butterflies will love your garden even more if you plant flowers that they love. Fortunately, all your favourites will attract them, too. So choose plants like pollen-rich poppies, roses and sweet-smelling lavender, marigolds and chrysanthemum if you want lots of wildlife in your garden.
Keep feeding the birds – they’re busy feeding their young – and, as well as topping-up feeders, refresh bird-baths and water dispensers. After all, it is summer and they’ll welcome a long drink and cooling bath.
Plants aren’t only growing rapidly in beds and borders. If you have a fish (and frog) pond, you’ll need to keep it healthy by thinning out your aquatic plants.
Enjoy your June garden!
Latest posts by Wyevale Garden Centres (see all)
- Love your summer garden in July - July 1, 2018
- In June, it’s time to enjoy your summer garden - June 1, 2018
- Get your garden summer-ready in May - May 2, 2018
- In April, spring is beginning to bloom - April 18, 2018
