What to Do in the Garden in June

June marks the start of summer with the longest days of the year. Gardens are at their most lush, roses are blooming, and early crops are ready to harvest. It's a month of both productivity and pleasure.

Key Takeaways for June

Harvest early crops including strawberries, peas and salads
Water regularly, especially containers and new plantings
Deadhead roses and other flowers for continuous blooming
Keep removing tomato sideshoots
Watch for and treat pests promptly
Tie in sweet peas and climbing plants daily

Flowers

June gardens are glorious with roses, sweet peas and early summer perennials. Regular deadheading extends the display.

June Flower Tasks

Deadhead roses after first flush for repeat flowering
Tie in sweet peas and pick regularly
Stake tall perennials before they flop
Take softwood cuttings from shrubs
Layer carnations and pinks
Feed container plants weekly
Watch for aphids and treat promptly
Cut back hardy geraniums after flowering
Prune spring-flowering shrubs after blooming
Divide bearded irises after flowering

Fruit and Vegetables

Harvests begin in earnest this month. Keep up with sowing for autumn crops and maintain regular watering.

June Fruit and Veg Tasks

Harvest strawberries, early potatoes, peas and broad beans
Pinch out broad bean tips once in full flower
Continue successional sowing of salads, beans and beetroot
Sow autumn and winter crops including calabrese and kale
Water crops regularly, especially in containers
Thin fruit on apple and pear trees after June drop
Net soft fruit against birds
Support tomatoes and remove sideshoots weekly
Pollinate greenhouse crops if needed
Mulch around vegetables to retain moisture

Greenhouse

Heat management is crucial in June. Ventilation, shading and regular watering are essential.

June Greenhouse Tasks

Ventilate fully, leaving doors and vents open
Shade with blinds, paint or netting
Water twice daily in very hot weather
Feed tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers weekly
Remove tomato sideshoots regularly
Damp down floors to increase humidity
Watch for red spider mite in hot conditions
Harvest cucumbers and early tomatoes
Train and pinch out melon sideshoots
Check for whitefly and use biological controls

House Plants

Houseplants outdoors need regular attention. Those inside need protection from intense sun.

June House Plant Tasks

Water outdoor houseplants daily in hot weather
Move sensitive plants away from hot windows
Feed weekly during active growth
Check for pests regularly
Mist humidity-loving plants
Turn plants for even growth

Garden Maintenance

Regular maintenance keeps the garden looking its best through peak season.

June Maintenance Tasks

Mow lawns weekly, raising the cut in dry weather
Edge lawns for a crisp finish
Water new plants and containers regularly
Weed borders before weeds set seed
Clip hedges as needed
Remove algae and blanket weed from ponds
Keep bird baths topped up
Check pond levels and top up