June - Midsummer's Day

• The long days and warmth of June will bring on your plants and all the unwanted weeds too, so keep on top of them by regular hoeing on dry days

• The new growth of herbaceous perennials will require staking, tying, or a plant support to keep them from sprawling or being damaged in the wind

• The last of any annual bedding should be planted out now together with any tender perennials such as banana, cannas, and coleus

• Prune early flowering shrubs such as Deutzia, Philadelphus and Weigela (RHS Pruning Group 2) after flowering to allow time for the new growth that follows to harden and bear flowers next year

• Tie in new growth on climbing and rambling roses to near horizontal as possible to promote the formation of flowering side-shoots

• For all your flowering plants, remember to deadhead as often as you can to prolong flowering

• In the vegetable garden, plant out sweetcorn in blocks rather than rows to help with wind pollination of the cobs

• Pinch side-shoots of cordon (indeterminate) tomatoes and continue to tie in the stems to a cane or twist around a suspended string

• Tomatoes and cucumbers should be watered regularly to prevent drying out and be fed with a high potassium fertiliser weekly

• Continue to succession sow salad crops of lettuce and radishes, as well as a second sowing of peas and mangetout.

• The formation of flowers on First Early potatoes are usually a sign that the first, most delicious new potatoes are waiting to be harvested  

• Mow lawns regularly but remember that longer grass will lose less water from the soil through evaporation so it's worth keeping mower blades higher