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Peter’s Gardening tips for June

By Peter Mills Jun 21, 2015

The gardening year is in full flow at last after cool June nights with frosts! Roses, Delphiniums, Peony, Catmint and the start of lavender to name a few.

Settled weather conditions perfect for planting bedding plants and more tender vegetables at last!

Cold nights have really held plants back. Here in the south it’s the dryness and the wind which desicate plants. Finally some rain to dampen the dust!

“Evening red and morning grey

 Are the sure signs of a fine day”!

“If the cock goes crowing to bed,

 He’ll certainly rise with a watery head”!

Foxgloves

Wild Foxgloves

Jobs to do:
Get out your hoe or swoe to deal with the weeds. Used in dry weather works better than weedkillers. Just push through the soil surface decapitating the weeds and the roots. Allow to dry in the sun. Make sure you have a sharpened edge on the hoe or swoe!

Mowing: 
Raise cutting deck if your garden is dry and sharpen the blade if the grass looks like split ends!

Watering and Feeding:
Crucial to getting good flowers, vegetables and fruits. A good soak is better than a sprinkling of water.
Fill pots to the rim and allow to drain. Liquid feed weekly now.
Hanging baskets and tubs can be fed alternate waterings.

Pruning:
Lots to do. Anything that has flowered this spring can be pruned.
Camellias, Rhododendrons, Viburnum, Clematis Montana. Don’t be frightened.

Pests and Diseases:
Plenty of mildew on Laurel hedges, here in the south of England. Caused by lack of rain.
Cut back feed and water, use a fungicide.
Aphids on Apple trees, Broadbeans, Foxgloves, Cherries, Roses etc.
Use SB Plant Invigorator or a garlic spray.
Viburnum tinus looking like lace curtains. Leaves all shredded caused by Viburnum beetle larvae.

Viburnum beetle larvae

Viburnum beetle larvae

Use a pyrethrum based insecticide to control. Spray in the evening and the undersides of the leaves or cut back all the affected growth, burn or dispose of.

Staking and tying:
An important task to prevent plants collapsing, broken stems and smothering other plants.

Shade the green house to stop scorching of plants. Spray with Coolglass.

Thin fruit on Apricots,Peaches,Nectarines, Plums, Apples and Pears.
Less stress on the tree, better quality fruit, less pests and diseases like brown rot, more air circulation too.

Remove faded and dead flowers on a regular basis to ensure a continuous supply of more flowers.

There’s no end of jobs to do this month tending all veg, flowers and fruit but make sure you take time out to visit gardens open near you or on holiday. Many villages have an Open Gardens  Day such as Shere in Surrey on 28th of June 2pm till 6 pm.

The National Garden Scheme is another excellent way to visit gardens and in so doing raising money for charities.

Hampton Court Flower Show celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. A chance to buy plants directly from the nurseries, gleaning valuable cultural information at the same time, breath taking venue with astounding gardens and intoxicating smells from Floral Marquees full of Roses.

Model Vegetable garden at RHS Wisley

Model Vegetable garden at RHS Wisley

I’ll be there on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 30th June to 2nd July with the RHS Wisley Gardening Advice team answering your questions, so feel free to bring in pictures of problem plants, bits of diseased plants in a plastic bag or container. Plants can be identified too. Free advice!

Looking forward to meeting fellow Silversurfers!

Happy Gardening to you all.

Regards Peter Mills

petermillsgardening.com

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE ANY GARDENERS QUESTIONS UNDERNEATH THIS FEATURE AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER YOU PERSONALLY … ALSO IF YOU WOULD LIKE A GARDENING TOPIC COVERED JUST LET ME KNOW

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Peter Mills

Peter has spent his life gardening, working in garden centres and advising in all aspects of gardening, wildlife, and bio-diversity in horticulture. He managed Clandon Park Garden Centre in Surrey at the age of 23 and was a gardening radio presenter with the BBC. This continued for 15 years, running live broadcasts from Chelsea & Hampton Court Flower shows, South of England & Surrey County shows. Now self-employed, Peter works on a wide variety of gardens from private to large estates and also concentrating on consultancy and advisory work to fellow gardeners. He works with the RHS Gardening Advice team at Chelsea, Hampton Court, Wisley Flower shows and is an RHS External Gardening Advisor
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