Flaming June and the garden is really starting to get into its stride – in fact you may have to speed up to keep up with it! Here are a few of the jobs you can be getting on with this month.
General tasks:
- Tackle perennial weeds as soon as they appear, forking out bindweed, couch grass and ground elder by the roots.
- Lay leaky hosepipes around the feet of your plants and link to the tap via a timer for automated watering that delivers water just where you need it.
Ornamental garden:
- Dry lavender flowers, hanging up in bunches somewhere cool and breezy, for using in flavourings and scented bags.
- Dead head sweet peas to keep the display at full throttle – the more you pick, the more blooms your plants produce.
- Give early-flowering perennials a haircut: cutting them back once flowering is over will often encourage a second flush.
Kitchen garden:
- Allow a few radishes to mature, flower and set seed – you’ll find the immature green seedpods have a delicious peppery crunch.
- Protect carrots against carrot fly with barriers of horticultural fleece around each row.
- Sow annual herbs like basil, chervil and dill regularly to ensure a continuous supply.