Summer is almost here and the garden is bursting into life. Flowers are blooming, vegetables are growing quickly, and longer days mean there’s plenty to enjoy outdoors. June is one of the most rewarding months in the gardening calendar, with borders full of colour and summer bedding plants coming into their own. Here are our top 15 gardening jobs for June.
15 Gardening Jobs for June
- Sow basil seeds little and often for a continuous supply of fresh leaves throughout the summer. Basil germinates quickly in warm weather, so avoid sowing too thickly and thin seedlings once they appear.
- Continue sowing lettuce, radishes, carrots and beetroot in the vegetable garden. Runner beans and French beans can now be sown directly outdoors too.
- Plant out courgette, tomato, pepper and sweetcorn plants. Runner and French beans started indoors last month can also go outside now. When planting tomatoes, bury them deeply so the first leaves sit just above soil level to encourage strong root growth.
- Remove side shoots from cordon tomato varieties to help plants focus their energy on producing healthy trusses of fruit. Bush tomatoes do not require pinching out.
- Feed tomatoes, peppers and courgettes grown in containers every two weeks with a high-potash liquid fertiliser to encourage flowers and fruit production.
- As the foliage of daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs fades, cut it back to ground level to keep borders neat and tidy.
- Weeds will be growing rapidly at this time of year, so keep on top of them with regular weeding. On dry days, use a Dutch hoe to slice through annual weeds and leave them to dry out on the surface.
- Fill hanging baskets and containers with summer bedding plants such as petunias, calibrachoa and geraniums for long-lasting colour. Fuchsias, begonias and busy lizzies are excellent choices for shadier areas.
- First early potatoes should be ready to harvest once they begin flowering. Lift a few plants to check the size before harvesting the rest.
- Strawberries will soon be ripening, so protect plants with netting to stop birds helping themselves to the fruit.
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as weigela and forsythia once flowering has finished. Cut flowered stems back to strong side shoots and remove some of the older stems at the base.
- Before trimming evergreen hedges, always check carefully for nesting birds and avoid disturbing any active nests.
- Deadhead roses regularly and pick sweet peas often to encourage continuous flowering throughout the summer months.
- Water plants in the early morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to reduce evaporation and make the best use of water.
- Mow the lawn weekly to keep it looking tidy. During hot or dry spells, raise the cutting height slightly to help prevent the grass from becoming stressed.
If you’re looking for inspiration or supplies for your summer garden, visit Carpenters Nursery garden centre. From plants and seeds to tools and accessories, we have everything you need to make the most of the season.
