WITH June starting tomorrow, it brings the promise of better weather and the longest day – but it can also bring a feeling of mild panic to gardeners.
Whether it is worry about having planted enough seeds or what do to with all the overgrown bits, we have got lots of June to get you organised.
THE CHELSEA CHOP
This cutback is usually done around late May or early June, the same time as the .
It means cutting back your herbaceous perennials — flowers with non-woody stems that come back year after year — by a third. This encourages a second flush of blooms and extends the flowering season.
Good plants to practice on include Asters, Echinacea, Phlox, Sedum, Rudbeckia and Helenium.
SOW SEEDS
As the soil has warmed up, sow your seeds straight into the ground instead of messing around with pots.
Broccoli, carrots, swede, beetroot, runner and French beans and sweetcorn can all go in now.
Courgette can still be grown in pots for a later harvest.
You can also scatter Nigella seeds on the soil for lovely blue flowers later in the season, and plant marigold and nasturtium seeds.
WEEDING
June is the month in which weeds flourish. A Hori Hori tool, below, is fantastic for getting them out, especially those with long roots.
Just spending five minutes getting your hands dirty will make it feel much less tiresome and out of control — and is also good for your
WATERING
We have finally had rain but after months of dryness your garden still needs a boost.Water in the early morning or late evening and avoid sprinkling the water all over the leaves. Concentrate on watering around the roots.
BEDDING
Fill your gaps with bedding but try to protect it from slugs and snails.
Lobelia brings a lovely blue while fuchsias and petunias are always good around this time too.
LAWNCARE
Because it has been dry and warm, you need to raise the cutting level to avoid scorching.
If you haven’t already, apply a spring/summer lawn feed to provide nutrients for healthy growth.
Or you could consider using a weed and feed fertilizer to control weeds while feeding your lawn.
Saving tip
BE precise in your Chelsea chop with these £42 Niwaki Mainichi Secateurs, top, or cut the price with Burgon & Ball’s Flora brite version, below, for £18 from B&Q.
Alan is garden chief
DAME is stepping down as the president of the National Garden Scheme after ten years – handing the baton to .
The NGS helps gives visitors unique access to more than 3,300 exceptional private gardens in , , Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Alan said: “There is nothing quite like the National Garden Scheme, either in the world of gardens and horticulture or beyond.
“Not only does it offer thoroughly affordable enjoyment and education – while championing the varied skills of the British nation – it also raises and distributes quite extraordinary sums of .”;
To find out what National Gardening Scheme gardens are open this month or inquire about opening up your own garden, see ngs.org.uk.
Kate is so rosy
B&Q will be the main stockist of Catherine’s Rose, bred by Harkness Roses and named after Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales.
Launching in stores in late September, the rose seeks to raise awareness of the important role that spending time outdoors plays in bringing us joy.
Funds from every sale of the rose will go to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
– JOIN Hever Castle & Garden’s historic rose tours – taking place June 23 to July 6. See hevercastle.co.uk.
