June Notes from the Potting Shed
with Gardening Expert Chris Milborne
June, the first month of summer, sees the garden bursting into life with fresh growth, fragrant Honeysuckle and Roses, and colourful cottage-style planting. Whites, silvers, creamy yellows, pinks, blues and purples blend beautifully, with Roses, Delphiniums and Foxgloves adding height and structure.
On the allotment and vegetable patch, Strawberries, New Potatoes, Apple Mint and salad crops are ready for harvesting. Recent weather has been challenging, with a dry April followed by late frosts and hail in May, damaging plants and delaying planting. However, gardens enriched with organic mulch are showing strong growth, and Peonies have thrived in the changing conditions.
Longer, warmer days offer the chance to enjoy the garden, watching flowers, bees and butterflies, although gardeners rarely sit still for long. As spring plants fade, gaps in borders can be filled with Herbaceous Perennials, summer shrubs, Dahlias, Cosmos and Salvias for colour later in the season.
Glorious Roses
Roses are among the finest summer flowers and deserve a place in every garden. Easy to grow and adaptable to many conditions, they thrive in well-fed soil enriched with compost or well-rotted manure. From climbers and ramblers to shrub, patio and ground cover Roses, there is a variety for every space. Many also offer superb fragrance, an essential quality for many gardeners.
Steeped in history, Roses were grown by the Greeks and Romans, with further varieties introduced to Britain from Damascus and later China. Today, repeat-flowering Roses are often grown alongside shrubs and Herbaceous Perennials in mixed borders for months of colour. Regular dead-heading, feeding and clearing diseased leaves will keep plants healthy, while once-flowering species should be left to form colourful autumn hips.
Other June highlights include fragrant Philadelphus, bold-leaved Hostas, Alstroemerias, Deutzias and Clematis. Inspired by displays at Chelsea, Clematis are a versatile choice for gardens and containers, provided their roots are kept cool and well-watered through summer.
Summer Colour
Containers and pots can brighten patios instantly. Bedding Dahlias, Herbaceous Perennials, Grasses, Fuchsias, Begonias and New Guinea Impatiens all provide reliable summer colour. Herbs planted near the barbecue area are both decorative and practical, and Basil can now be grown outdoors in the warmer weather. Alpines also make excellent container displays, offering interesting foliage and flowers in miniature form.
Lawns benefit from regular mowing and neatly trimmed edges, while newly planted areas should be watered deeply once a week to encourage strong root growth. Morning watering is best, as evening watering can encourage slugs, snails and damp foliage.
Vegetables and Herbs
Continue sowing Lettuce, Rocket, Spring Onions, Radish, Pak Choi, Chinese Cabbage, Carrots, Peas and Swede for regular cropping. Plant out Sweetcorn, Beans, Courgettes and Squash, and protect Strawberries and soft fruit from birds and slugs.
Houseplants
Even without outdoor space, gardening can be enjoyed indoors with the wide range of Houseplants available. From lush foliage plants and Orchids to Palms and shade-loving varieties, there are options to suit every room and windowsill.
Take time to enjoy the garden after all the hard work - warm summer evenings are perfect for relaxing outdoors and perhaps planning future changes for the seasons ahead.
