It is not often you read that in gardening news. However it was the final and it takes all sorts. This was highlighted by a recent train journey from London to the south coast where I had the time to observe your gardens. What a varied lot! They included beautifully manicured gardens, play grounds, wilderness areas, waste reclamation sites etc. Therefore considering all that what do we need to do in June?

Following the recent weather and at the first sign of the sun get your chair out, pour yourself a brew and bask in the sun, it might not last. Survey the garden and find all is well. Well you have been following tips and hints from me for over a year now. No, all is not well then let’s go to the dreaded things to do in June list.

Hanging baskets, yes go on spoil yourself they are easy to create and look great. Use summer bedding plants, especially trailing ones. When making up hanging baskets and there are plenty of guides how to but one of the most important things is to remember to mix water retaining gel in to the compost. This prevents the baskets drying out too quickly.

Obvious fact number 2. Keep an eye on pot plants and you should feed as well as water because the original feed in any compost used will have been used up, especially when watering it is easy to overdo and when you see water running out of the bottom, it is taking the feed with it. So replace it.

Mow your grass, some of you may have lawns, but I have an area of grass which after years of tender loving care still refuses to behave like a lawn. I shall have to show it the colour supplement from some of the weekend papers to remind it what it should look like. You may need to cut it more often and don’t forget to lower the cut height on your mower as time goes by.

I mentioned summer bedding earlier re hanging baskets, now is the time for hardening off bedding plants raised under glass and plant these once done. Water in well and give them a little fertiliser but not too much nitrogen.

Seeing as it is fast approaching the longest day, June 21st, and the days are getting warmer you should be shading the greenhouse.

Not only does warmer weather cause your garden to grow much quicker, including the weeds (hoe and trowel kept oiled and ready to leap to its defence?) but pests and diseases start turning up. But think before reaching for the killer sprays, those pests are part of the food chain and perhaps you can tolerate them in small quantities and rely on natural control by their enemies. As for diseases………… SPRAY at the first sign!

Talking of which, time for a little more learning, taphrina deformans is latin for peach leaf curl and is a fungus which causes blistering and deformed leaves on … yes peaches and nectarines. If in sunny Jersey or similar where you can grow them outside it is more than likely you will get a problem with this disease. If growing under glass it is less likely as it seems rain in the spring (!!) makes it worse and trees/bushes sheltered from the rain don’t get it any where near as bad. Chemical treatments include Bordeaux mixture (copper based) or Dithane. Seek advice before using.

With early perennials cut off old flower stems after flowering and you might even get a second flush, if not, they will at least look neater. Whilst you have your secateurs out prune the early flowering shrubs to develop the framework for next years’ flowers.
For the environmentally aware, biennial flowers such as evening primrose, foxglove, great mullein, honesty, sweet rocket, angelica, teasel and wallflower are all valuable for wildlife. Night-scented plants for moths such as evening primrose, sweet rocket, jasmine and honeysuckle.
Lift and divide bulbs that have finished flowering, such as grape hyacinths, bluebells, fritillary, ramsons daffodil, crocus and tulips.
Don’t forget it is easy to grow plants from plug plants, these are already rooted, so give it a go and you will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

But remember. Nothing is essential in the garden apart from enjoying yourself, granted things may not look manicured but have the cup that refreshes and decide on your priorities.
Til July, that’s all reader(s)