June is one of the best months to get stuck into . With long summer days, warm light evenings and bursting into bloom, there's plenty to enjoy, and plenty to do. Experts at say this is the time when your is at its most colourful, with growing fast and many and ready to be picked. But to keep everything looking its best, it's important to stay on top of a few essential jobs.
Watering is one of the biggest priorities in June. Newly planted , containers and hanging baskets all need regular moisture, especially in . It's best to water in the early morning or evening so less water evaporates, and always aim for the soil rather than the leaves to avoid scorching. For borders, a deep soak once a week is better than a daily splash, but containers will likely need watering every day.
June is also the perfect time to plant out summer bedding and hanging baskets. These can add instant colour to your garden, especially if you use a mix of upright and trailing plants like petunias, geraniums or lobelias.
Keep them well-watered while they settle in and protect them from slugs and snails. Using good quality compost can also help keep your plants hydrated and reduce stress.
If you've got roses, cutting off faded blooms will encourage new flowers. Use sharp snips and cut back to a strong side shoot, then follow up with a rose feed to boost growth.
Early summer shrubs like Weigela and Deutzia can also be pruned now. Just trim off about a third of the old growth to improve airflow and shape.
June is also the time to take cuttings from Dianthus. These clove-scented plants can be propagated easily by snipping five-leaf sections from non-flowering shoots and placing them around the edge of a pot filled with cutting compost. Keep them in the shade and water gently.
There's plenty happening in the kitchen garden too. Strawberries and raspberries are starting to ripen, and even if you haven't planted any yet, it's still possible to buy 60-day strawberry plants that will fruit later in the summer.
Fruit trees like apples and plums may need thinning to make sure the remaining fruit grows strong and healthy.
Peas, broad beans, carrots and beetroot are all ready for picking, and the earlier you harvest, the more crops you'll get.
If the weather stays warm, you may even be able to dig up your first new potatoes by the end of the month.
Tomatoes can also go outdoors now. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot and only start feeding once the first green tomatoes appear.
To keep plants blooming, feeding is key. Use a general-purpose liquid plant food every time you water, and don't forget the lawn either.
Mowing once a week and applying a lawn feed will keep it thick, green and weed-free through the summer months.
