One way or another, June involves water! Either the Flaming June fails to materialise and we are dodging into the garden between unseasonal showers, or it’s Flaming June with a vengeance, and we are locked into a never ending cycle of watering! Whichever June turns out to be this year, enjoy the garden, continue with our monthly tasks and remember to bring Dad into Ruxley for a cuppa and a yummy cake on Fathers’ Day!
- Continue to monitor, especially the evergreens, trees, shrubs and perennials planted during last winter and this spring. Water as necessary to continue proper establishment. Mulch the surface to reduce evaporation and control weeds.
- Prune and dead-head spring flowering shrubs, bulbs and trim ground cover that has finished flowering.
- Continue mowing lawns, but not too short. Water on a regular basis newly turfed or reseeded areas to maintain establishment.
- Now is the time to plant up bedding materials, hanging baskets and containers. Ensure that the plant material is hardened off and protected during the first few weeks. Add water retaining gel and slow release fertiliser to the potting compost which will assist or reduce the need for watering during the season.
- In sheltered locations pots and grow bags can be planted up with tomatoes, aubergines, outdoor cucumbers and sweet peppers.
- Plums and cherries can be pruned now along with fan-trained fruit. Tie in new branches to continue framework, pruning side shoots to encourage fruit bud formation. Expect fruit trees in June to naturally drop some of their fruit. If still overloaded, reduce by thinning excess fruits.
- If pheromone traps have not been installed, quickly do this now. Separate traps are needed for plums and apples to catch the male coddling moth and plum moths.
- Make successional sowings of salad items, beetroot, radish and carrots and sow rows of spring cabbage.
- Plant out French and runner beans, courgettes, marrow, sweet corn and pumpkins.
Lots to do this month! So if whether it’s wellies and brollies or sunhats and shades, enjoy the longer evenings!
