Gardening Jobs for June
Warning – Much depends on where you live and the weather before you take any actions listed below – in the south of the Uk you will be able to do these tasks a good few weeks before those who live in the north. So be careful these are just guidelines.
1. Hanging Baskets
The first of the month brings us in to Meteorological Summer, but you might not believe it depending on where you live the way the weather is performing. However, as the weather have certainly warmed a little it’s time to get all those hanging baskets planted up and hung for the wonderful displays you can get. Remember to add some mulch or perlite to help with holding some water especially when the sun if particularly hot or you’re getting constant streams of wind.
2. Watering pots and hanging baskets
As I have just alluded to above, baskets and pots need watching and watering carefully as they can soon dry out when the sun and wind do their jobs as the days lengthen and warm. Watering in the early morning usually works best, but make sure you check again in the evenings just to see if some of them need a little extra care. It’s best not to water during the heat of the day as much water is lost through evaporation from the soil’s surface and you will find that the plants will use water more efficiently when they are watered in the cooler parts of the day.
3. Tomatoes:
It’s time to remove side shoots from your tomatoes. Whist technically we’ve just hit summer, there is still the chance of frost so make sure you protect them, especially if they are outside and not in a greenhouse. As they begin to fruit tomatoes are a thirsty bunch for plants but you have to be careful that you don’t overwater Again water in the cooler parts of the day morning and evening and be careful not to miss them thinking they will be fine because you watered them this morning, or you could find yourself with splits in the skin of the fruit.
4. Hoe Borders:
Along with your new plats popping there will be the inevitable spread of weeds doing just the same. Time to get out the hoe and chop the tops off the unwanted weeds and remove them. Do this regularly to keep them down.
5. Grass cutting:
No doubt your grass will be growing away, time to start cutting the grass once a week but try to leave areas where you let it grow longer to help the insects and butterflies sow their eggs they need all the help we can give them.
6. Harvest salads:
Hopefully by now you should have salad crops to pick for those lovely summery salads. Lettuce, Radish, New potatoes and others all tasting wonderful as they have no travel miles. Don’t forget to sow rotations of these salad varieties so you have their harvest for weeks to come.
7. Get Staking:
Now is the time to get those stakes in the ground which help keep your flopping flowers and other plants upright and tidy looking at their best. Much easier to do them before they actually need the supports, saves fighting around all the other growth later just to do your best to stop them falling over.
8. Summer Bedding:
Depending on where you are in the county and the weather (no frosts etc) it’s time to plant out your summer bedding plants. Once you’ve done a good few step back and take a good look. Isn’t it great to see all that colour brightening the garden – makes you feel good!
9. Pruning time for some shrubs:
To encourage healthy growth on the deciduous shrubs that flower in late winter, spring and early summer will be ready for a pruning. Pruning them annually helps them to produce healthy shoots, improve flowering and prolong their lives. Prune them after they have flowered, taking out any dead wood or weak shoots.
10. Shading:
If you haven’t already cleaned out your greenhouse now’s the time to do that and while you are at it organise some shading so the plants in there get some respite from the heat of the sun as the days get wormer and longer.