June Gardening To-Do List
Feed containers and hanging baskets every few weeks If you have used standard compost that does not contain continual feed, it is best to keep your plants a little boost with a liquid fertiliser. Simply grab yourself some all-purpose liquid feed and follow the recommended instructions on the packaging. Make sure to water your plants regularly and remove the dead heads regularly to encourage more flowers.
Add marginal plants such as lilies and iris around pond edges. Give the shallow borders of your pond a colourful addition whilst improving the vitality of your pond life. Marginal plants add shade to your pond by spreading across the surface. This is important as it reduces sunlight, which in turn prevents the growth of algae.
Cover developing and ripening fruit with netting to protect from birds. Naturally, if you fill your garden with delicious ripe berries, it will attract some eager feathery friends! Try installing some bird netting a couple of weeks before your fruit is maturing, to help protect them from onlooking wild birds.
Apply tomato feed regularly to fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, courgettes and pumpkins. If you have grown fruiting vegetables in the past, you will know they are very thirsty plants! Not only do they require daily watering, but they require additional nutrients from a liquid feed. Tomato feed should do just the trick, treat them to a feed every 1-2 weeks and make sure to dilute the solution following the instructions on the bottle.
Support tall-growing perennials with sturdy canes. As we all know, the British weather is highly unpredictable! We need to make sure that our taller plants are protected come rain or shine. To give them the best shot at surviving strong winds and reaching maturity, support them with canes such as bamboo canes. You can use a small tie to keep them securely in place, such as some natural twine.
Apply a feed to your lawns and protect them with weed & moss killer. Fertilising your lawn will help to keep weeds and moss at bay, whilst encouraging healthy growth so you can enjoy spending your summer days out on the grass.
Start harvesting early potatoes. First Early potato varieties can be ready to lift from June onwards. When the flowers have opened or the buds have dropped, there is a good chance your tubers are ready to harvest. Get ready to enjoy delicious new potatoes with your summer salads.
Prune spring-flowering shrubs like Forsythia and Ribes. As we reach the end of the Spring month, it is important to prune shrubs that have finished flowering. Cut back any shoots that look dead, damaged or diseased and try to thin out clusters of twigs where they appear congested. Removing weaker stems will allow the plant to focus on growing the stronger twigs that will produce healthier flowers.
