Summer

June

Now that summer is here it is important to find time to relax in the garden and enjoy nature's rich tapestry.

Flowers

• Plant summer bedding
• Plant up window boxes and troughs
• Prune spring flowering shrubs to prevent them becoming overgrown
• Thin out seedlings of hardy annuals that were sown directly into the soil
• Sprinkle Rose Plus around Rose plants to encourage strong growth and a good flower display
• Spray roses with Rose Clear 2 to control pest and disease if necessary
• Remove suckers from Rose bushes when they are seen
• Support taller annuals and perennials with pea sticks pushed into the soil
• Clip hedges
• Water newly planted shrubs and perennials in dry periods.

Fruit

• Tie new canes of Raspberries and Blackberries onto wires, keep them separate from last years growth
• Pick Rhubarb regularly and do not allow it to form flower spikes
• Remove damaged branches from damsons and plums
• Spread nets over soft fruit bushes
• Check fruit cages for tears or damage
• Put straw under Strawberries to protect from slugs.

Vegetables

• Thin out rows of previously sown vegetables allow them to reach their potential
• Finish harvesting Asparagus
• Keep onions well watered to ensure that the bulbs swell
• Pull up soil around main crop potatoes
• Pinch out tips of broad beans to discourage black fly
• Feed all plants regularly and water in dry periods.

Lawns

• Mow lawns more frequently and reduce the cutting height if the grass is growing quickly
• Water in dry spells provided that there is no hose pipe ban
• Feed tired lawns with Miracle Gro lawn food to give them a boost
• Apply a combined feed and weed if not already done.

Greenhouse

• Use a shade paint or netting on greenhouses to prevent over heating and scorching of tender plants
• Feed all plants at least once a week
• Use a biological control or fumigate if pests are a problem
• Ensure that there is adequate ventilation
• Continue training and feeding cucumbers and melons
• Pick male flowers from cucumbers and pollinate female flowers
• Soak the floor morning and evening to keep the humidity up.

Ponds

• Continue to feed pond fish
• Remove any blanket weed by twirling it around a stick
• Check filters on pumps to ensure they are not blocked.

General Tasks

• Take cuttings of Geraniums, Fuchsias, Coleus and other house plants
• Watch out for pest and disease in all areas and spray when necessary
• Stake Herbaceous plants to prevent wind damage.

Plants which are at their best in June

• Lupins
• violas
• Deutzia
• Lavender
• Philadelphus varieties
• Papaver
• Hosta varieties
• Hardy Geraniums
• Paeonies
• Campanula

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July

Mid summer and the garden is at its most colourful. The frantic rush of growth has gone and the plants develop into mature shapes and colours. This is the gardening year's peak of achievement.

Flowers

• Prune late spring and early summer flowering shrubs immediately after flowering to promote new growth.
• Deadhead roses and feed regularly.
• Spray roses to control black spot, mildew and aphids.
• Water hanging baskets and containers at least once a day and feed once a week.
• Feed perennials and shrubs with a granular fertiliser e.g. Rose Plus and hoe into the soil.
• Remove faded flowers on delphiniums and lupins. This may encourage a second flowering.
• Trim spring flowering heathers to remove flower heads and to keep in shape.
• Tie in and train new growth on climbing and rambling roses.
• Water newly planted shrubs and perennials in dry conditions.
• Semi-ripe cuttings can now be taken from shrubs and rooted in a cold frame.

Fruit

• Check nets on fruit cages to make sure that they have not moved or been damaged.
• Strawberry runners can be pegged down into soil or pots.
• Train new growth on trained fruit trees removing side shoots.
• Mulch rhubarb plants and remove flower spikes.
• Remove straw from under strawberries that have finished fruiting.
• Thin out any apples and pears that are still too overburdened with fruit.
• Pick raspberries regularly.

Vegetables

• Harvest early potatoes.
• Harvest globe artichokes.
• Earth up main crop potatoes to give an increased yield.
• Plant leeks when the plants are as thick as a pencil.
• Keep onions well watered to maximise yield.
• Sow salad crops directly into the ground to continue getting fresh plants.
• Feed all vegetable plants.

Lawns

• Continue to mow grass raising the height of cut in dry weather.
• Irrigate the lawn provided that there is no hose pipe ban.

Greenhouse

• Spray peaches and nectarines every day with tepid water.
• Use biological control where pests are a problem.
• Ensure that all vents are working and close them on cool evenings.
• Soak the floor morning and evening to keep the humidity up.
• Remove faded flowers and dropped foliage to prevent the build up of fungal diseases.

Ponds

• Continue to feed pond fish.
• Remove any blanket weed by twirling it around on a stick.
• Check filters on pumps to ensure that they are not blocked.
• Remove any plant material that has fallen into the pond to prevent the build up of disease.

General Tasks

• Top canes with cane caps to protect eyes.
• Clean paving or slabs with an algicide.
• Put pots of plants into gaps in the borders.
• Use a RCD when using any electrical equipment in the garden.
• Feed the garden using granular fertilisers like Growmore or Rose Plus.

Plants which are at their best in July

• Achillea
• English Roses
• Clematis e.g. Marie Boisselot
• Erodium
• Deschampsia
• Athyrium
• Digitalis
• Hemerocallis
• Tropaeolum speciosum
• Penstemons

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August

Flowers

• Prune wisteria by reducing this year's growth to just five or six buds.
• Deadhead roses regularly.
• Spray roses to control black spot mildew and aphids.
• Water hanging baskets and containers at least once a day and feed once a week.
• Water camellias regularly as they are now forming next year's flower buds.
• Dead head sweat peas to increase the flowering season.
• Tie in and train new growth on climbing and rambling roses.
• Water newly planted shrubs and perennials in dry conditions.

Fruit

• Check nets on fruit cages to make sure that they have not moved or been damaged.
• Finish training fruit trees by removing side shoots.
• Cut out one or two of the older stems in current bushes to allow new growth.
• Remove straw from under strawberries that have finished fruiting.
• Finish picking raspberries and prune summer varieties down to ground level.

Vegetables

• Concentrate on watering plants in flower and fruit.
• Earth up brussel sprouts to give them support as they mature.
• Earth up main crop potatoes to give an increased yield.
• Plant leeks when the plants are as thick as a pencil.
• Keep onions well watered to maximise yield.
• Sow salad crops directly into the ground to continue getting fresh plants.

Lawns

• Continue to mow grass raising the height of cut in dry weather.
• Irrigate the lawn if allowed to use the hosepipe.

Greenhouse

• Damp down the greenhouse floor each morning to increase humidity.
• Pinch out side shoots on tomatoes and feed with tomerite regularly.
• Ensure that all vents are working and close them on cool evenings.
• Shade plants to prevent scorching. Use netting or shade paint on the outside.

Ponds

• Continue to feed pond fish.
• Remove any blanket weed by twirling it around on a stick.
• Check filters on pumps to ensure that they are not blocked.
• Remove any plant material that has fallen into the pond to prevent the build up of disease.
• Top up as and when necessary.

General Tasks

• Top canes with cane caps to protect eyes.
• Clean paving or slabs with an algicide.
• Put pots of plants into gaps in the borders.
• Use a RCD when using any electrical equipment in the garden.
• Feed the garden using a granular fertiliser like Growmore or Rose Plus.

Plants which are at their best in August

• Oenothera
• English Roses
• Fuschia e.g. Lady Thumb or Tom Thumb
• Nepeta Six Hills Giant
• Echinops ritro
• Perovskia
• Ground cover roses
• Hemerocallis

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