June Gardening Advice and Tips

Nurturing Your Garden in June: Embracing the Longest Days

Welcome to June, a truly vibrant month in the gardening calendar! As the days stretch to their longest and the warmth of summer begins to embrace us, our gardens burst into life.  However, this period of rapid growth also brings its own set of tasks and considerations.  One of the most noticeable will be the energetic emergence of weeds, thriving in the increasingly favourable conditions.  Staying ahead of them with regular hoeing on dry days will save you significant effort later in the season.

Here's my guide to keeping your garden flourishing throughout June:

Essential Jobs for a Thriving June Garden:

Propagating New Plants: June offers excellent opportunities to expand your plant collection through cuttings:

• Aucuba Japonica: Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, current year's shoots that are just starting to become woody.
• Ballota Pseudodictamnus: Prepare for July/August by identifying short, non-flowering side-shoots for cuttings to root in a propagator.
• Helianthemum 'Henfield Brilliant': Now is the time to take softwood cuttings.
• Hylotelephium Spectabile 'Brilliant': Take softwood cuttings from non-flowering stems.
• Fuchsia: Take softwood cuttings, about 6-8cm long, from vigorous stems.  These can even be rooted in water on a windowsill initially before potting up.  Protect them indoors over winter and plant out after the last frosts next year.
• Viburnum: Take greenwood cuttings now.

Adding Colour and Structure:

• Summer Baskets and Containers: With the risk of frost passed, position your vibrant summer hanging baskets and containers outdoors to create stunning displays.
• Campanula: Plant these beauties now to enjoy their charming bell-shaped flowers.
• Fatsia Japonica: June is an ideal time for planting Fatsias, adding a touch of architectural interest to your garden.
• Gaura Lindheimeri: Plant now or take cuttings.  Look forward to their delicate flowers appearing this month.
• Penstemons: It's a great time to purchase Penstemons and add their elegant spires of flowers to your borders.  Cuttings that were started last year can now be carefully transplanted into their final positions in the flower beds.
• Salvia: Plant out your Salvia now, ensuring all risk of frost has passed.
• Wallflower: Plant perennial wallflowers now.  Sow biennial wallflowers directly outdoors in their final growing position, enriching the soil with plenty of garden compost.  Choose a shady spot for sowing.  These will be ready for planting out in October or next Spring.  Avoid moving them after planting as they dislike root disturbance.

Sowing for Future Blooms:

• Corn Marigold: Sow these cheerful wildflowers directly into the soil where they are to flower.
• Field Poppies: Sow Field Poppy seeds directly into the soil for a splash of vibrant colour.
• Forget-me-nots: Sow Forget-me-not seeds directly into the soil for a charming display of blue next spring.
• Foxgloves: Sow Foxglove seeds in pots outdoors.  These will be ready for planting out in September or next Spring, bringing their majestic spires to your garden.
• Yellow Rattle: Sow Yellow Rattle seeds directly into the soil.  This fascinating plant can help to reduce the vigour of grasses in wildflower meadows.

Maintaining Existing Plants:

• Euonymus: Prune again to maintain the desired shape of your Euonymus shrubs.
• Pruning Spring-Flowering Shrubs: Now is the time to prune spring-flowering shrubs such as Forsythia, Lilac, and some varieties of Fuchsias.  Also, prune fruit trees like Apples, Cherries, and Pears, as well as hedging plants like Privet, Laurel, Camellia, and Ceanothus after they have finished flowering.
• Staking: Provide support for tall or floppy plants to protect them from potential wind damage.

Harvesting and Enjoying:

• Garlic: Harvest your garlic bulbs when the leaves begin to turn yellow, indicating maturity.
• Strawberries: Enjoy the sweet reward of your hard work by harvesting ripe strawberries regularly.

Essential Care:

• Greenhouses: Shade your greenhouse to regulate the temperature and prevent scorching of your plants' leaves during the warmer days.
• Mowing Lawns: Aim to mow your lawn at least once a week to keep it tidy.  If you're passionate about supporting wildlife, consider leaving some areas longer to allow wildflowers to flourish, providing valuable habitat for insects and other creatures.
• Tomato Plants: Plant your tomato plants outdoors once night-time temperatures consistently stay above 16°C (approximately 60°F).
• Watering: Water your plants deeply in the early morning or late evening to minimise evaporation.  Be particularly mindful of water usage during dry spells or in drought-affected areas.
• Weeding: Stay vigilant and hoe your borders regularly to keep weeds under control before they become established and compete with your precious plants.

June is a month of abundance and activity in the garden.  By following these tips and embracing the longer days, you can ensure your garden thrives and provides you with beauty, enjoyment, and perhaps even a delicious harvest! Happy gardening!