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Peter’s Gardening tips for June

By Peter Mills May 31, 2023

It is a very busy month in the gardening calendar, and time for a large dose of Vitamin 'G'!

The weather has been very mixed for the past month with lots of rain and at last, the sunshine has arrived, which is the perfect recipe for a happy garden!

Now everything is exploding into growth and the plants, like us, are solar-powered. What a difference the weather makes to everyone.

If you can, continue No Mow May into June and see how many wildflowers, different grasses, beetles and butterflies you can see in your mini meadow…

Scent in a garden is one of the most important senses to enjoy, with Wisteria taking center stage at the moment!

The crucial thing is to have scented plants whether foliage or flowers, near to where you sit in the garden. Everyone has their own sense of smell and scent is very personal, it evokes so many things in our subconscious, relaxes, brings back memories, calms and gives and incredible sense of pleasure.

It is possible to plan and plant scented plants that will flower every month of the year, try to use your nose, have a good sniff and educate your sense of smell, enjoy!

Herbs are a must-have and not just for cooking or using in salads. Plant creeping thyme, mint or camomile to tread on planted in gravel or between paving slabs to release their wonderful aromas, and plant lavender or rosemary to brush against as you walk past.

Rosemary

Jobs to do in June

Summer planting

It’s time to plant out bedding plants, more tender vegetables, courgette, pumpkin, squash, sweet corn, french and runner beans…

If you haven’t already done so, plant containers and hanging baskets; you may have to use containers that have been planted up for winter and spring that have come to an end. Gardening enthusiasts and eco-conscious individuals often find themselves with a surplus of old compost or potting soil. While it may seem tempting to discard these materials, they can actually be repurposed in various creative and sustainable ways.

Keep feeding and watering all plants in tubs, and containers and do use slow-release fertiliser if you can. For all newly planted plants, a good soak is better than a shower each day!

Hot lips (Cherry sage) flowers / Salvia microphylla

Get inspiration from Kim Shaw, our resident florist on how to create a flower display with Alliums from your garden below:

Vegetables

Plant out Runner Beans, Pumpkins, Courgettes, Tomatoes, and Climbing French Beans.

Keep sowing salad crops at 3 weekly intervals for a continuous supply.

Weeds

Gardens featuring more weeds and less formality have taken centre stage at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, placing more emphasis on letting nature take control.

However, nasty weeds are having a field day. Watch out for Japanese Knotweed. The wet and mild winter has meant deep-rooted weeds are getting off to a flying start. The growth is extraordinary. Capable of coming up through tarmac… Check out Environet.

Other weeds like Giant Hogweed and Ragwort– which are poisonous, have loved the wet conditions so germination has been really good. Please wear gloves or gauntlets to remove these weeds!

In hot sunny weather use a hoe or a swoe to cut down weeds at soil level, let the sun scorch them up! No chemicals and good exercise!

With hot weather forecast don’t cut your lawn too short.

Visit other gardens for inspiration

Enjoy visiting Open and Secret Gardens all over the country, National Garden Scheme gardens, National Trust gardens

There is nothing better than horticultural espionage! You gain and learn so much. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and buy plants!

Whatever the weather, enjoy your gardening, take time out, use your senses, listen to the bird song, stop and observe life around you, relax with a glass of your favourite tipple, draw breath and inhale the scents of yours or somebody else’s garden!

Happy Gardening!

Peter

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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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