June in the garden and the season is in full swing. Even in the smallest garden there is plenty to do at this time of year. From transplanting seedlings you have raised in the greenhouse to cutting back early flowering plants to make way for colorful annuals. So before you put on your boots for a day in the garden, read this short reminder of some of the vital jobs to be doing in the flower garden during June.
If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to plant up a beautiful summer basket. By now the risk of frost has passed so you can plant it up right now and hang it straight out. Make a visit to your local garden centre where you will find a huge variety of colorful varieties of annual plants well suited to a hanging basket. Plant up your hanging basket at the beginning of the month and you will have a stunning display in just a few weeks. Keep the basket well watered in dry weather and feed once a week.
If you have noticed suckers growing around the base of standard roses remove them with a sharp pair of secateurs. Watch out for pests like greenfly and treat with soapy water. In the herbaceous border make sure all tall growing perennials such as foxgloves and delphiniums are tied to plant supports to prevent them from flopping over. Cut back early flowering shrubs such as camellia and rhododendron after flowering. Do the same with early flowering herbaceous plants such as lupins and flag iris after flowering to 4 or 5cm from the ground. Fill in any gaps in the flower border with annual bedding plants.
Pinch out the growing tips of dahlias you planted early in the spring to encourage the plant to bush out. Sow seeds of sweet williams, wallflowers and forget-me-nots. Towards the end of the month is the time to start propagating some of your favourite flowers. Take cuttings from Dianthus (pinks) and collect seed from foxgloves. Propagate flowering climbers such as wisteria, honeysuckle and clematis using the layering method.
Finally, brighten up your patio by filling any empty garden planters with stunning displays of summer bedding plants. Group containers together in different sizes to create an eye-catching display. Remember at this time of year that any container grown plants will need plenty of water and regular feed to keep them blooming throughout the summer months.