Plant out summer bedding and homegrown seedlings that have matured. You can finally make some space in the greenhouse by moving plants to their final home for the year.
Refresh pots and create colourful new hanging baskets with Pelargoniums, Begonias, Dichondra silver falls, Hedra helix gold trailing (Ivy), Nepeta trailing, Petunias trailing, Nasturium, strawberries and succulents to name a few.
Water and feed container plants regularly. They can dry out quickly this time of year. Ideally collect rainwater so recycled; tap water contains chlorine. Be careful with water usage if long periods of drought.
Deadhead roses, peonies, pinks, geum, sweetpeas… stop summer flowering plants going to seed to prolong flowering period.
The cutting garden – pick flowers regularly to encourage new growth and ensure a constant supply.
Regularly pick Lathyrus odoratus (sweetpeas) to stop them going to seed and prolong flowering period.
Plant outdoors courgettes, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes.
Pinch out tomato side shoots. Feed with high potash food to aid fruit development.
Successional sow salad, radish, mange tout, carrots.
Cover soft fruit with netting to protect from birds.
Stake tall / floppy plants.
Harvest lavender flower heads late June.
Lawns will need mowing regularly.
Greenhouse may need shading to prevent plant scorching.
Clip evergreens such as yew, box and privet.
Ponds: remove blanket weed. Remember to leave it on side of pond so wildlife can crawl out.
Harvest the fruits of your labour! Broad beans, peas, early potatoes, asparagus, spinach, chard, salad, broccoli, strawberries, summer raspberries. Enjoy!
Prune now or AFTER flowering: Philadelphus, Berberis, Cytisus, Deutzia, Magnolia, Syringa (common lilac), Weigela, Rosmarinus, Plum and Cherry trees. Prune any outstanding shrubs/trees from May list.
Hoe annual weeds.
Remove perennial / tap-rooted weeds such as ground elder & bindweed. Avoid chemicals if possible – organic gardening friendly for wildlife, pets and children! If you cannot avoid them then treat specific area, wrap in a plastic bag to contain it whilst still attached to parent plant so systematic weed killer can work its way to the roots; otherwise dig out as much as possible, try to untwine from border plant roots. Virtually impossible to dig out completely as even an inch of root left in ground re-grows but new plants will have weaker/unestablished new roots so easier to remove and over time the problem can be managed and maintained. Digging out needs to be regularly repeated.
Remove tap rooted weeds. You can buy specific taproot tools to avoid disturbing soil and plants around the weed and make removal easier. Try to remove entire taproot or it will re-grow. If no other option, apply either glyphosate-based systematic weed killer to specific weed; this will kill the root; or an alternative to glyphosate is pelargonic acid (naturally occurring in geranium leaves).
Put weeds to good use – make homemade nettle compost tea! High in nitrogen. Great for new shoots.
Make homemade Comfrey compost tea! High in potassium to encourage flowers and fruits.
Look out for pests & diseases on plants i.e. rose black spot, lily beetle.
Slugs & snails - either pick off, use beer traps, copper rings, shingle/egg shells, nematodes ‘Nemaslug’. If using slug pellets try to use organic ferric phosphate (child & pet friendly) I personally use Sluggo Slug & Snail Killer by Neudorff; can be used on edible crops also resistant to rain. Avoid metaldehyde-based products.
Vine Weevil can be a real problem in pots. The beetles are active now so physically remove if you see them or use Nematodes. ‘Nemasys’ is a biological vine weevil killer, which is fast active and compatible with organic gardening. Simply water into pots. Treatments lasts six weeks.
Gardens are delicately balanced ecosystems so try not to totally eradicate pests as they will be a food source for other creatures i.e. birds/frogs love slugs & snails! Everything co-existing, with no dominant species, will equal a healthy garden!
