Summer gardening jobs

Checklist

• Plant out tender veg such as tomatoes after the last frost.
• Plant summer bedding displays once the risk of frost has passed
• Harden off seedlings, put them out during the day and in at night.
• Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as Forsythia as they finish flowering.
• Earth up early potatoes and plant maincrop potatoes.
• Sow and plant salad crops in succession.
• Mow the lawn and feed weekly.
• Look out for pests such as lily beetles and treat accordingly.
• Regular monitoring and control of pest and disease will ensure nothing builds up to damaging levels.
• Watch out for late frosts.

Hints, tips and hacks

• Remove all the flowers from your bedding plants once planted up to ensure the plant puts all its energy into root establishment. When they come into flower, they will produce many more.
• Create impact by planting baskets and containers in odd numbers.
• Establish the routine of ‘Feeding Fridays’. Flowers and vegetables will benefit from high-potash liquid feeding every week, which will enhance flower and fruit colour, quantity, and flavours.
• Do the ‘Chelsea Chop’. Cutting back herbaceous perennials in the week of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show will see them coming back more spectacularly than if left.
• If you live in a sunny location, try a succulent or alpine hanging basket as an alternative to traditional planting.
• Deep watering in the early morning is better than little and often.
• Growing some extra plants in plastic pots allows easy gap filling and adds new interest.
• Pick sweet peas weekly to encourage more flowers and fill vases indoors with the scented blooms.

Plant of the month: Dahlia ‘Velvet Crush’

Gorgeous velvety blooms and a long season make a lasting impression in containers and borders.

Planting and grow your own

• Plant out tender veg like beans, tomatoes, and courgettes after the last frost.
• Begin to cover the tops of your potatoes with compost or soil.
• Harden off seedlings.
• Pick rhubarb regularly.
• Hang up pheromone traps in apple and plum trees to protect against pests.
• Sow succession crops: lettuce, radish and beetroot.
• Plant pumpkins outside once the risk of frost has passed.

Ornamental

• Prune spring-flowering shrubs like Forsythia and quince.
• Plant summer beds and baskets.
• Plant Dahlias and tuberous begonias.
• Plant shrubs as the soil starts to warm up.

Lawn care

• Mow your lawn weekly and feed regularly.
• Make sure you water your lawn during dry spells.

Maintenance

• Set up irrigation and watering systems.
• Check and treat aphids, slugs, and lily beetles.
• Thin fruit on apple and pear clusters.
• Start weekly liquid feeding as flowers develop.

Wildlife

• Check for wildlife before clipping hedges.
• Sow pollinator-friendly plants in baskets and planters.

Houseplants

• All about Alocasia.

Checklist

• Deadhead bedding plants, perennials and roses to prolong flowering.
• Prune spring perennials, climbers and shrubs such as Wisteria, Philadelphus and Weigela.
• Start harvesting strawberries, early potatoes, peas and beans.
• Mulch borders to a minimum depth of 3cm to inhibit weed growth and lock in soil moisture.
• Prune roses and refeed with a granular fertiliser between flushes of flowers.
• Support tall plants by tying stems upright to stop them from falling over.
• Succession sow and plant as space allows.
• Protect fruit crops from pests.
• Water new plantings, making sure they get deep watering during dry spells.
• Monitor and control pests and diseases.

Hints, tips and hacks

• Water the floor of your greenhouse to cool it down during hot weather.
• Consistent watering is key this month – set up routines and water deeply to encourage strong roots.
• Keep a small pair of snips handy and deadhead flowering plants daily.
• Liquid feeding is key this month with ‘Feeding Fridays’.
• Supporting tall plants by tying stems upright will encourage flowering and prevent wind damage.
• Thin out heavy crops of tree fruit ahead of the ‘June drop’, when trees naturally shed their excess fruit. It’s all about aiming for less fruit, but of a higher quality.

Plant of the month: Alstroemeria

Striking petals, stunning colour – expect repeat flowering for a beautiful show from these low-maintenance plants.

Planting and grow your own

• Sow biennials for next year (foxgloves, wallflowers).
• Sow salads, carrots and beetroot.
• Tie/stake tomatoes and beans.
• Pinch out tomato side shoots to promote fruiting, and pick fruits as they ripen.
• Sow any bare vegetable patches with cut-and-come-again salad, and continue to harvest young leaves.
• Remove suckers from the base of fruit trees.
• Keep a very close eye on pests and diseases and treat for them early.

Ornamental

• Deadhead roses and perennials.
• Train climbers.
• Stake tall perennials.
• Plant out any tender bedding plants still in pots.

Lawn care

• Mow weekly and water during dry spells.
• Raise the height of the mower blade to protect grass.
• Apply summer fertiliser.

Maintenance

• Mulch beds and borders with bark chip, soil conditioner or homemade compost to retain moisture.
• Net fruit against birds.
• Keep checking plants, leaves and soil for slugs and snails.
• Start weekly feeding of grow your own crops as fruits start to form.
• Give barbecues a deep clean to improve performance.

Wildlife

• Shake tomato flowers to help pollination.
• Install bee hotels.

Houseplants

• Plant feature of the month – Sansevieria.

Checklist

• Plan for watering if you're going away on holiday.
• Maintain summer watering – deep and less frequent rather than little and often.
• Start weekly feeding – apply a liquid feed that’s high in potash after the first flowers or fruit are produced.
• Deadhead flowering plants to keep them blooming for longer.
• Use shade netting to protect vulnerable leaves on vegetables or seedlings from the harsh summer sun.
• Watch out for blight on tomatoes and potatoes. If spotted, remove the leaves and harvest tomatoes immediately and potatoes after two weeks.

Hints, tips and hacks 

• Use the ‘Hampton Hack’ (named after the Hampton Court Flower Show). Cut down early-flowering perennials such as lupins, Geraniums and Delphiniums to 10cm above ground level to encourage fresh growth and a second flush of flowers.
• Put a small saucer under pots and containers to reduce watering.
• Use sacrificial companion plants to distract pests from other plants, such as planting Nasturtiums near brassicas to distract caterpillars.

Plant of the month: Hydrangea Paniculata

Stunning, cone-shaped flowers that often change from white to pink in mid-summer make this a statement plant for any garden. Low-maintenance with sturdy stems, it flowers the same year you plant it.

Planting and grow your own

• Sow autumn crops (radish, chicory, beetroot).
• Train and remove the growing tip of vining tomatoes once they reach about 1.8m to concentrate the plant’s energy into fruit.
• Succession sow beans and courgettes.
• Harvest courgettes early before they become marrows.
• Remove strawberry runners (the long stems produced in summer) to keep energy focused on the main plant.

Ornamental

• Deadhead bedding plants and perennials.
• Cut back Delphiniums and Geraniums.
• Identify any gaps in summer colour and fill with new plants in flower.
• Trim Wisteria side shoots.
• Plant autumn-flowering bulbs (Colchicum, Nerines).

Lawn care

• Mow fortnightly – leave grass longer in the heat.
• Only water during prolonged droughts.

Maintenance

• Feed tomatoes weekly.
• Plan irrigation before holidays.
• With furniture, opt for removable, machine-washable cushion covers to prevent the build-up of pollen, dust, mould and mildew – which also helps stop them from fading.

Wildlife

• Provide easy access to water for wildlife.
• Avoid cutting hedges to prevent disturbing any active bird nests.