Flower garden
Trim clematis
Trim Clematis montana cultivars if large and overgrown. If you leave it any later to prune you will not get flowers on them next Spring as they flower on the new shoots that grow this Summer.
Prune flowers
Pinch out the growing tips of basket and container plants to encourage them to produce bushy even growth and lots of flowers. Remember to continue dead heading to prolong the flowering period.
Pests and diseases
Use a forceful jet from a garden hose to knock aphids off water lilies and other garden plants. Spray roses to protect them against problems with mildew, blackspot or rust.
Summer bedding plants
Finish planting out summer bedding plants in borders, baskets and containers. Fill gaps with large fuchsias or Geraniums which are on sale now.
Cut down early-flowering perennials
Remove faded flowers on perennials such as Lupins and Delphiniums. Early pruning often encourages a second flush of flowers late in the season. Cut the flower-spike down to just above a new shoot or leaf, and give each plant a generous liquid feed to encourage fresh growth. Remove the seed heads from Aquilegia before they ripen to prevent them from spreading.
Greenhouse
Watering
All potted plants need a daily check for watering. Add a full-strength liquid feed once a fortnight or a dilute one more regularly.
Ventilation
Open ventilators and doors every morning, but close them again on cool evenings.
Growing bags
Never let crops in growing bags go short of water. Plants such as Tomatoes and Cucumbers have massive water requirements at this time of year as they produce fruit.
Glasshouse pests
Biological pest control can be used at this time of year against whitefly and red spider mite.
Kitchen garden
Herbs
Woody stemmed herbs such as sage and thyme produce lots of fresh healthy new shoots at this time of year, which will quickly root if taken as cuttings.
Harvesting
Early potatoes will be ready to harvest soon. Check one plant first to assess the crop size. Leave them to develop further if the potatoes are too small, and water the rows every week.
Fruit crops
Enjoy the fruits of your labours by picking rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, currants, cherries and gooseberries. Remember to net fruit bushes to keep birds away, but make sure to check the netting daily to ensure that no birds have become trapped.
Crops to sow
From June to early July the following vegetable crops can be sown directly outside: lettuce and salad leaves, radishes, spring cabbage and dwarf French beans for a late crop. Winter spinach can be sown from July to September.
Fruit trees
The natural June drop will thin out a heavy fruit crop to some degree, but it is worth lending a hand. Pick off any small, damaged or diseased fruits to leave those remaining spaced 10cm (4in) apart.
General care
Pruning
Cut out plain green shoots growing on variegated shrubs to prevent them spoiling the appearance of your shrubs. The green shoots will eventually overtake the variegated growth if allowed to continue growing.
Weeds
Keep up the battle against problem weeds, removing any flowering stems before they have a chance to set seed. Many can be removed by hand, digging deeply to get out every last piece of root, or some chemical treatments such as Resolva can be effective.
Lawns
Mow it at least once a week, twice if possible, and finish by cutting the edges neatly. Feed lawns, if this hasn't been done already, and treat any weeds and moss. The clippings can usually be mixed into the compost heap, but remember to discard them for the first few mowings after applying weedkillers as it will spoil your compost.
Mulch
Protect new and established plants by mulching the soil between them with composted bark. This will not only look attractive, setting off the surrounding plants, but will reduce annual weed growth and conserve soil moisture. Always mulch over moist ground, never on to bone-dry soil, so be sure to water well first if necessary.
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