Gardening Calendar - June

June officially marks the start of summer. The Summer solstice is nearly upon us, and the extra light and warmth encourages the garden to put on an exuberant burst of growth.

If you haven’t done so already, plant patio pots and baskets with summer bedding. Most plants enjoy a sunny position, although begonia, impatiens and fuchsias don’t mind some shade. Established containers will be putting on a lot of growth now and taking up a lot of nutrients from the compost. You will need to feed containers and baskets once a week to ensure healthy strong plants. You may also need to move pots further apart, to ensure that plants are getting enough light and air is circulating freely.

Support tall-growing perennials, including hollyhocks and delphiniums, with a sturdy cane or plant supports before they get too tall. Prune late-spring and early-summer shrubs after flowering, such as weigela and philadelphus, thinning out the older stems.

Hoe borders regularly but do so on a dry day. It’s worth doing even on soil that seems to be weed free as it will help to disturb any tiny weed seedlings.

The warmer weather should see grass growing strongly. If you’d prefer to mow less and allow more wild plants to flourish in your lawn, providing pollen, nectar and shelter for insects and other wildlife, you can leave a section uncut.

Pinch out the side shoots of tomatoes regularly to get the best from your crop. Water greenhouse tomatoes regularly to prevent split fruits and blossom end rot, and feed once a week. Spread mulch around thirsty crops such as beans and courgettes to hold in moisture around their roots.

Cover any ripening fruits with netting or fleece to protect them from hungry birds.

Treat pots with vine weevil control if this pest has been a problem in the past, as larvae become active this month.

Ensure bird baths are kept topped up in warm weather to give garden birds a place to bathe, drink and cool down. Put food and water out for hedgehogs. Ensure any ponds have an escape route in case a hedgehog falls in!