Thursday, June 12, 2008

June in the Garden

June is an interesting month with the winters shortest day occurring on or about 21 June, yet June is not generally the coldest month. Continue to plant out new trees and shrubs in their new locations. It is a good tome to transplant larger specimens to new locations in the garden.

Take some time to do some winter reading and enjoy the indoor garden

Vegetables
Lift, split and replant rhubarb with lots of compost.
Sow Broad beans in well prepared ground.
Sow Onions
Continue to plant small quantities of cabbage, cauliflower, shallots and leeks.
Protect Broccoli curds by breaking their leaves and bending them over the curds.
Prepare potatoes for sprouting prior to planting.
Dig in green crops when they reach 150mm high.
Plan crop rotations for your garden.
Plant strawberries on ridges covered with polythene film.

Flower Garden
Lift perennials, divide, replant only the vigorous shoots
Prune roses, hydrangeas and shrubs
Propagate plants from hardwood cuttings.
Plant new plants – make sure the hole is wide enough and it is deep enough to create good drainage.
Plant out pansies and violas.
Place sand or dry mulch over the top of tender deciduous perennials to stop them rotting in winter and to mark their place in the garden.
Prune wisteria – the long growths are pruned back to within 2-3 buds of the main stem. This will help them produce flowering spurs.

Fruit
Prune fruit trees
Prune fruit bushes - currents, gooseberries etc
After pruning spray with all seasons spraying oil to control a large range of pests and diseases. Its environmentally friendly as well.

Indoor Plants
Shift pot plants away from windows to reduce the chance of them being frosted through the glass on cold nights.
Home heating and dehumidifyiers dry out the atmosphere and reduces humidity so watch plants carefully and water when dry.
Cyclamen prefer cooler conditions for best foliage and flowering in winter, do not keep them in a hot place.

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