It's all go in the garden come June. There's (hopefully) warmer weather and extra sunlight: two ingredients to create a colourful and bountiful garden. This month we'll start to pick crops and marvel how big things grow from such a small seed. Sadly, weeding has to take priority - otherwise they'll overrun your garden. Here are some jobs to do in the garden this month ...
In the Garden
Plant out summer bedding in pots and borders. Remember to water them well so that they establish.
Support tall-growing perennials like hollyhocks and delphiniums with canes.
Pinch out the tips of fuschias and bedding plants to encourage bushier growth.
After flowering, prune late-Spring or early-Summer shrubs like weigela.
Fruit & Vegetables
Birds are hungry and fruits are tasty - so use a lightweight fleece to cover and protect ripening fruits like blueberries and strawberries.
Remember to water vegetables and fruit especially if the weather is dry.
Regularly check for snails, especially on damp evenings when they're most rampant!
Feed fruiting vegetable crops, tomatoes, courgettes, pumpkins and chillies with tomato feed.
For a fresh crop of new leaves, cut down a clump of chives to rejuvenate growth.
Greenhouse
Pinch out the side shoots of tomatoes.
If you've had a problem with vine weevil in the past, treat pots now as larvae become particularly active this month.
Feed tomatoes weekly to bolster crop growth. Water regularly but don't over-water otherwise you could get a case of blossom end rot - and all your hard work will have gone to waste.
Ensure there's plenty of ventilation in the greenhouse on hot days.
If you've not already done so, sow container herbs like coriander, parsley and basil.
Other Jobs
Where possible, use a water butt to collect rainwater - there's nothing better for plants as it's all-natural.
Clip evergreen hedges like privet, box and yew whilst they're still in growth. But make sure you check for nesting birds first.
Keep bird baths topped up - especially in hot weather.
Turn your compost heap to keep it aerated.