Summer arrives
June 21st is the longest day of the year, and the extra light and warmth encourages the garden to put on an exuberant burst of growth. This brings some of the first harvests from the vegetable garden, including tasty new potatoes and salads. As the conditions become drier, keen an eye on containers and if you haven’t got one, it’s never a bad time to install a water butt.
Top gardening jobs this month
Plant up summer hanging baskets and containers
Choose vibrant bedding plants for a summer show or herbs, shrubs and evergreens for a long-lasting display.
Use water wisely to keep your plants thriving
Watering is key to growing plants well, so here we look at how to get it just right. If you haven’t already got a water butt, installing one is a great way to help the environment.
Pinch out sideshoots on tomatoes
Removing the sideshoots is simple – every time you water, check the plant for any shoots in the joint between the leaf and the stem.
More jobs for this month
- Harvest lettuce, radish, other salads and early potatoes
- Hoe borders regularly to keep down weeds
- Mow lawns once a week if needed – but consider leaving some areas uncut for wildlife
- Plant out summer bedding
- Stake tall or floppy plants
- Prune many spring-flowering shrubs
- Shade greenhouses to keep them cool and prevent scorch
With permissions https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/june