Tim's Gardening Tips
June in the Garden
Flower garden
- Complete planting of summer containers.
- Keep containers well watered and give a liquid feed every two to four weeks.
- Cut back dead bulb foliage.
- Trim back hardy Geraniums after flowering to encourage fresh new growth and a second flush of flowers.
- Cut back Aubrieta and Alyssum immediately after flowering to encourage fresh new growth.
- Hoe or hand weed regularly to control weeds.
Roses, shrubs, hedges & climbers
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs after flowering, such as Deutzia, Kolkwitzia, Weigela and Philadelphus.
- Deadhead repeat flowering roses to encourage a second flush.
- If required, trim evergreen shrubs such as Viburnum tinus.
- If necessary, prune deciduous magnolias once in full leaf.
- Regularly tie in climbers such as honeysuckle and clematis.
- Give box hedging and topiary an annual trim.
Trees
Lawns & meadows
- Keep mowing lawns regularly, but leave the grass longer in times of drought.
- Apply a high nitrogen summer lawn feed, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Lawns with bulbs growing in them should be mown from six weeks after the bulbs flowered, keeping the mower blades high.
- Spring flowering meadows can now be given their annual cut.
Ponds & water features
- Keep ponds and water features topped up and clean pond filters.
- Finish planting new aquatic plants.
- Remove blanket weed and skim off floating weeds as soon as seen.
Wildlife
- Keep birdbaths clean and topped up.
Out and About
- I recommend visiting some of the many private gardens that open under The National Gardens Scheme in June.
- The gardens of 103 Dulwich Village, SE21, for which I have been the single-handed gardener for the last five years, opens to the public on Sunday 14 June 2009, 2-5pm, for St. Christophers Hospice, and on Sunday 21 June 2009, 2-5pm, for the National Gardens Scheme.
- The London Open Garden Squares Weekend takes place on 13-14 June 2009.