John’s June jobs for the garden…
After the dry spell and then the bout of heavy rain, your plants may have had a surge in growth and will need some attention. As the plants grow, so do weeds! Here’s some gardening jobs and task for June…
Check waterlogging – When it rains after being dry, plants can become waterlogged which can cause root rot, lack of oxygen, chlorosis and stunted growth. If leaves look yellow, black, limp or there are puddles on the soil surface, work in some organic matter and ensure pots and containers have adequate drainage.
Check for pests & disease – Dry weather followed by rain will bring out the slugs, snails and aphids, and also some diseases. Protect plants, especially young ones, with barriers and treatments.
Weed control – Plant growth will surge after this weather but so will weeds! Hand pull or hoe whilst the soil is still damp and softer.
Mulch – Once you have the weeds under control, ensure you mulch to prevent seeding and to retain the moisture that’s in the soil. Especially important if we get another dry spell.
Prune Spring flowering shrubs – This helps to shape the plants and promote strong growth next year.
Deadhead bulbs and early perennials – Remove the fading flowers from tulips, daffodils and primroses to prevent seed formation and let their foliage die back to feed the bulbs.
Plant summer bedding – The chance of frost has now past, so it’s time to get some summer bedding in borders, pots, containers and hanging baskets.
Finish dividing summer perennials - Trim back the leaves if they have lots of growth on them.
Chelsea chop summer-flowering perennials that have pairs of leaves up the stem. These will shoot out from the nodes and flower later on at a more compact size.
Pinch out Dahlias before planting them out in early June - This promotes more compact stems of flower.
Support your Peonies with canes and string or some beautiful metal supports. We have some fabulous ones available at the nursery.
Take offsets from your Auriculas and pot them up in a 3-part mix of multipurpose, John Innes no.3 and pearlite.