8 June Gardening Jobs To Tick Off Your List

If you took part in No Mow May, chances are your garden’s looking pretty busy right now – and the British wildlife will be absolutely loving it.

You might be taking Monty Don’s advice and continuing the no-mow vibes throughout June, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other gardening jobs to get done while you lay off the lawnmower.

Longer days and warmer temperatures mean plants will be growing quickly, flowers are blooming, and vegetable gardens are starting to produce crops. So, watering, feeding and general maintenance are essential.

If you’re not really sure what exactly to prioritise in the coming month, Amber Tunney, plant buyer at Cherry Lane Garden Centres, has shared her top gardening jobs for June.

The gardening expert said by June, temperatures are usually warm enough for hanging baskets to be moved outdoors permanently: “Position baskets in a sunny, sheltered spot and water regularly, especially during hotter weather, as containers can dry out quickly.”

Ideally you should be doing this every few weeks to encourage growth and good flowering.

“Plants in containers and hanging baskets use up nutrients quickly during the warmer months, so regular feeding is important to encourage healthy growth and continuous flowering,” said Tunney.

A liquid fertiliser applied every couple of weeks can help plants stay vibrant and full throughout summer.

Whether you’re growing strawberries, currants or something else entirely, cover them with lightweight netting so the birds don’t get at them.

If you’re growing tomatoes (or any other fruiting vegetables) and they’re beginning to produce flowers and fruit, Tunney recommends switching to a tomato feed to help support healthy development.

“This is because tomato feed is high in potassium, which is essential for encouraging strong growth and supporting crop development throughout the season,” she explained.

While we’re on the topic of tommies, removing the small side shoots that grow between the main stem and branches helps the plants direct more energy into producing fruit rather than excess leafy growth.

“This is particularly important for cordon tomato varieties, especially those grown in greenhouses or trained against supports,” said Tunney.

You can begin harvesting early potatoes in June, which the gardening pro said “provides the best, freshest flavour while also helping gardeners avoid peak blight season later in the summer, when warmer and more humid conditions allow the disease to spread more easily”.

She advises carefully lifting potatoes with a fork to avoid damaging the crop – enjoy them while they’re fresh for the best taste and texture.

As we enter the hotter months, greenhouses can become particularly toasty, which can stress or damage plants.

“Using greenhouse shading, blinds or even temporary netting can help regulate temperatures and protect plants from scorching,” said the gardening pro.

If you’re growing a gorgeous wisteria, a summer prune will help keep growth under control and encourage better flowering next year.

Tunney suggested that “long, whippy side shoots” can be cut back to around 20cm, helping maintain the plant’s shape and prevent it becoming overcrowded.