Gardening Jobs for June

June is here and with it brings the sun and fun in the garden! June is not only the longest month and sees the change of season, but it is the month to sow, sow, sow.

After months of planting and nurturing seeds in the greenhouse, many of these can now be planted out as the frosts should now be well and truly gone, but never say never with the British weather and keep an eye out for any signs of cooling!

June may not be the hottest month, but it has plenty of sunshine, and we will see the summer solstice on 21 June when we say goodbye to spring and welcome summer.  

It’s now time to recap what we’ve sown, enjoy the garden for June it is truly a glorious month for crops and stunning flowers.

Weed & Water

• Just like plants, June is the month where weeds thrive.  The key is to keep on top of them with regular hoeing. This includes removing hardier weeds from lawns such as dandelions to prevent spread and self-setting.
• All newly planted seeds and seedlings need watering in. Once planted, a good soak every few days is ideal rather than watering in the day and as temperatures rise, water later in the day. Be mindful of how much water we use and recycle where possible. 
• Add a good feed regularly such as Organic All Purpose Plant Food to encourage growth or Organic Seaweed to help stressed plants and vegetables.

Sow, sow, sow

• Direct sow vegetables such as carrots, broccoli and Swiss chard.
• Grow your own salad by planting radish, salad leaves and spring onions. 
• Your herb garden should be flourishing now, but if not sow fast-growing herbs such as dill, parsley and basil every few weeks. 
• You can direct sow lots of flower seeds now to bloom late summer. Nasturtiums, calendula and nigella are just a few. Take a look around your local garden centre or nursery for inspiration.

Plant out

• It’s time to plant all those seedlings you’ve been growing in the greenhouse. Broccoli, leeks, cauliflowers and peppers to name a few. 
• If you haven’t already, plant out summer bedding.
• Less hardier plants such as tomatoes and cucumbers can now be planted outside. Once planted, give them a good feed with Organic Tomato Food or Liquid Q4 to give them a boost.
• Pinch out side shoots on tomatoes on cordon varieties and stake securely.
• Position your hanging baskets and feed with Tub & Hanging Basket Feed.
• Citrus plants such as lemons, kumquats and limes are not hardy, but can be grown outside in pots during summer and will benefit from regular feeding with Citrus Summer Soluble Feed.

Pruning, harvest and plant care

• Cut back and dead head spring flowers.
• Roses – cut dead or fading flowers to encourage more flowers. Continue to feed and protect with Organic Liquid Rose Food and Rose Guard.
• Tie in sweet peas and feed with Liquid Seaweed to prevent plant stress. These are delicate flowers and need to be nurtured but smell gorgeous and add amazing colour to any garden.
• Plum, cherry and peach trees can be pruned now and fruit thinned out to encourage larger fruits.
• If you have planted soft fruits such as raspberries and strawberries, you should now see them fruit ripening ready for harvesting. Cherries, redcurrants and blueberries will also soon be ready to be picked.
• Rhubarb will need picking if ready and cutting back. Add Vitax Q4 to replenish for next season.
• Harvest early new potatoes as soon as they flower towards the end of the month.

Pests

• Slugs and snails are on the rampage and you may notice your newly planted seedlings and plants disappearing. Use an organic deterrent such as Slug Gone to steer them away.
• Aphids such as greenfly and blackfly will start to appear as there is little rain to wash them away. Use a barrier spray such as Plant Guard to protect plants and crops.
• Whilst they look cuddly, rabbits can become a pest as they nibble on new shoots. Protect newly planted crops and flowers with netting or use a natural repellent such as Stay Off Rabbit Repellent.
• Monitor and protect your buxus from Box Tree Moths by investing in a Box Tree Moth trap. Infestations of box tree caterpillars could destroy your buxus, so early detection is key to preventing and monitoring the situation.

Lawns

• If you do mow your lawn, keep grass slightly longer as it will withstand the warmer temperatures more easily.
• Consider not cutting some areas to encourage wildflowers.

Feeding guide

You’ve spent months growing plants from seed and now they have been planted out, they will still need some TLC. Keeping plants hydrated and fed is essential for continued growth. Take a look at the quick feed guide below with a range of specialist and general fertiliser and feeds.

• All crops and flowers: Organic All Purpose Plant Food, Vitax Q4 or Liquid Growmore.
• Stressed plants: Organic Seaweed.
• Tomatoes: Organic Tomato Food.
• Strawberries: Organic Liquid Strawberry Fertiliser.
• Roses: Organic Liquid Rose Food.
• Establishing roots when planting out: Q4 Rootmore Soluble.

With such a lot to do, any spare time should be spent enjoying your garden. Sit, back and relax, summer is almost here.