June in the Garden

This month should be clear of frosts,and the sun is at its strongest, so make sure that
soil moisture is maintained, and weeds are suppressed early.
Mulching when the ground is wet will conserve moisture as well as suppressing weeds.

Lawns

Mow lawns regularly- at least once per week, if you want a superior lawn. (Twice a week if necessary.)
If the weather is very dry, set the mower blades to 2.5 cm high to allow the grass to grow a little longer. You will need to water the lawn when occasionally, so check out the condition of hoses and sprinklers.
Do not feed lawns when the weather is hot!

Ornamental Garden

Deadhead all faded flowers from all plants regularly. This prolongs flowering periods and also helps the plant build up strength.
If you delayed planting summer bedding last month plant it now. Continue to watch for aphids and fungal diseases and spray accordingly.
If you have not already done so apply a general fertiliser. (Growmore, Fish Blood & Bone meal, or one of the many liquid plant feeds.
Roses should be given a rose fertiliser feed if not done earlier. Watch for aphids, mildew and black spot.
Continue to thin out hardy annuals that were sown in-situ earlier on.
Tie in new shoots of climbing plants, before they find their own way about!
Hanging baskets will need watering at least once a day in hot weather. The water retentive gel crystals really do work.
Continue to protect plants from slugs and snails. Do not overdo the application of slug pellets. Just sprinkle lightly.

Fruit Garden

Protect ripening fruit from birds with nets.
After the June 'drop' of fruit, thin out any that remain overcrowded.
Continue to spray gooseberries against mildew.
Prune plum trees to reduce overcrowding and remove any damaged or diseased
branches.
Continue to harvest rhubarb, raspberries, blackcurrants and strawberries. If you are not able to do this, you may think about providing some plants ready for next year!
Trained apple trees can have side shoots cut back, also side shoots of
gooseberries and Currants
Harvesting blackcurrants is easier if you prune out some of the older branches
before picking.
Continue sowing vegetables to ensure continual supplies.
Plant out leeks, winter cabbages, brussel sprouts, sweetcorn, tomatoes, marrows
courgettes, ridge cucumbers; and celery.
Towards the end of the month try lifting a few early potatoes to see if they are ready. As an alternative, you can 'dust away' some of the soil, look for potatoes that are big enough for an early feast - leaving the 'titches' there; covered over with soil again, to grow on.

Greenhouse

In the greenhouse continue feeding tomatoes and other plants once a week.
Keep watering plants twice a day in hot weather and damp the floor and staging.
Ventilate and shade. Whitefly and other aphids, need to be kept under control.

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