What to do in the garden in June

The Longest Day of the year falls next week, bringing warmer temperatures and extra sunlight. Flowers are blossoming, there are lots to harvest in the vegetable garden, and keeping on top of bolting plants is a priority — particularly weeds!

Here's what you can do this month to keep your garden looking stunning for the summer months:

1. Check plants daily and water them if the soil is dry — especially newly planted fruit trees and shrubs that are still getting established. To help you save money, time & water, it's well worth setting up an automated drip irrigation system.
2. Harden off any remaining half-hardy bedding plants ready for planting out.
3. Use blinds or apply shade paint to prevent your greenhouse from overheating. Remember to open vents and doors on warm days.
4. Keep on top of weeding. Your plants shouldn’t have to compete for precious water, light, and nutrients.

In the flower garden:

• Harden off and move hanging baskets and containers growing on in the greenhouse into their final position. If your hanging basket plants become leggy, trim off the excess to encourage bushy new growth not only this but thin out drifts of hardy annual plants if they're overcrowded.
• Lift and divide clumps of snowdrops and bluebells once the leaves start to yellow.
• Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of flower bulbs and tubers.
• Wait for bulb foliage to die down naturally before cutting back.
• Pinch out the tips of fuchsias to encourage a bushy habit and more flowers.
• Start to pick sweet peas as soon as they flower to encourage more blooms.
• Dead-head your roses if they’re repeat-flowering types. Otherwise, leave the seed heads on for decoration

In your veg patch:

• Earth up potato plants as they grow and keep the compost of newly planted container potatoes moist, but take care not to overwater, as this compacts the soil, squeezing out the oxygen, and prevents the developing tubers from swelling.
• Pinch out any side shoots from your tomato plants. You can pot these up to create new tomato plants. Start to feed once the first truss is setting fruit. For more information about growing your own delicious tomatoes, head on over to our new tomato hub.
• Harvest salad crops, and resow every 2 weeks for a constant supply of tasty leaves.
• When planting out cabbages, use brassica collars to prevent cabbage root fly attacks.
• Harvest first early potatoes — these are normally ready about 10 weeks after planting.
• Keep an eye on your onion and garlic. When the leaves start to yellow and die back, they’re ready to harvest.

For garden tips next month, keep an eye on our socials @movingworksuk