As we go into June, officially the first month of Summer, there are lots of things to do in our gardens. And now thankfully the warmer weather is with us.
Some beautifully scented plants to buy or enjoy in June
• Common jasmine – A strong climber, which will quickly cover pergolas, trellises and sheds.
• Star jasmine – This evergreen climber has a beautiful fragrance very similar to common jasmine. Shelter from cold, drying winds and site in full sun or partial shade.
• Peonies – There are many perfumed peonies available.
• Lilies – Easy to grow in containers or pots, they prefer ericaceous conditions.
• Philadelphus – The mock orange, is one of the most richly scented plants.
General Garden Maintenance
• Empty, mix and refill compost bins to speed up decomposition
• Spray roses showing signs of disease, such as blackspot, powdery mildew or rust
• Continue watering any new plantings until they’re well established
• Water newly laid turf several times a week, for at least the first month
• Trim fast-growing hedges, such as privet, every six weeks over the summer
• Put stakes in to support tall, large-flowered dahlias and tie in stems as they grow
• Prune spring-flowering shrubs, such as kerria, choisya, chaenomeles and ribes, after flowering
• Check hedges and shrubs for nesting birds before you start any trimming or pruning, so you don’t disturb them
• Remove any all-green shoots on variegated shrubs, cutting right back to their base
• Feed lawns with a liquid or granular lawn fertiliser
Flowerbeds and Pots
• Lift and store tulip bulbs after flowering
• Give wisteria its summer prune, cutting all the long sideshoots back to 20cm, to promote flowering next spring
• Support tall-growing perennials, including hollyhocks and delphiniums, with a sturdy cane or supports
• Continue planting summer bedding in pots and borders, and water regularly to help plants establish quickly
• Cut back spring-flowering perennials, such as pulmonaria, to encourage a fresh flush of foliage
• Tie in new stems of climbing and rambling roses horizontally to supports, to encourage more flowers
• Pinch out the tips of fuchsias and bedding plants to encourage bushier growth
• Give container displays and hanging baskets a liquid feed every few weeks to encourage flowering
• Fill any gaps in borders with pots of tall bulbs, such as fragrant lilies, to add instant colour
• Prune late-spring or early-summer shrubs after flowering, such as weigela and philadelphus, thinning out the older stems
• Add marginal plants, such as arum lilies and marsh marigolds, around the edges of your pond
Fruit and vegetables
• Plant out sweetcorn after hardening off, arranging plants in blocks to aid pollination
• Cover developing and ripening fruits with netting or fleece to protect them from birds
• Enjoy the last harvests of asparagus this month, then leave the ferny top-growth to grow up over the summer
• Spread mulch around thirsty crops such as beans and courgettes to hold in moisture around their roots
• Water vegetables and fruit in containers regularly, especially during dry sunny weather
• Go on regular snail hunts, especially on damp evenings, to reduce populations
• Tie in new shoots of blackberries, raspberries, loganberries and other cane fruits
• Apply tomato feed regularly to fruiting veg crops, including tomatoes, courgettes, pumpkins and chillies
• Rejuvenate chives by cutting the clump down to the base, for a fresh crop of new leaves in just a few weeks
• Water beans and peas as they start to flower
• Pull out any raspberry canes sprouting up out of their dedicated area
Greenhouse
• Sow herbs in pots to grow on your kitchen windowsill, such as coriander, parsley and basil
• Plant out tender vegetables raised indoors, including beans, tomatoes, pumpkins, courgettes and sweetcorn
• Put houseplants outside for the summer in a warm, sheltered spot to enjoy the fresh air and extra light
• Harden off hanging baskets and pots of summer bedding that have been growing in the greenhouse
• Water plants daily in warm weather, ideally in the evening or early morning, and avoid splashing the foliage
• Increase greenhouse shading and ventilation to keep temperatures down on hot days
• Feed flowering and fruiting plants weekly with tomato feed
• Water greenhouse tomatoes regularly to prevent split fruits and end rot
• Start watering houseplants more frequently as temperatures and light levels increase
Alpington and Yelverton 