The problem with Early Summer is more hours of daylight, more time to wander through your garden, enjoy the colour, the scent and the sight of…….Black fly?! Noooo! Or as happened to me, leaves disappearing from my Red currant bush, gobbled down by the pesky Sawfly caterpillars.
It is so easy to get overwhelmed with all there is to do in the Garden at this time of year. But have no fear, I have a solution! Use this quick reminder of some of the tasks you need to do. Broken down into ‘areas’ of the garden, you can work your way through the list, and the garden, to make sure nothing gets overlooked. For the complete list of prompts read on
Tasks to do in the Early Summer
IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN
- Plant out Courgette, Marrow and Squash plants as well as Runner Beans, Winter Cabbage plants, Cauliflowers and Broccoli
- Pot on Tomatoes and Sweet Peppers or plant out outdoor varieties
- Pinch out the growing points of Runner beans for bushier plants
- Earth up Potatoes
- General maintenance; weeding, watering, and mulching crops
- Harvest crops!
IN THE FRUIT GARDEN
- Time to prune the laterals (side-shoots) on Cordon trained Currants (red or White) as well as Gooseberries
- Train new shoots of cane fruits such as Blackberries, Raspberries and Loganberries. These will bear fruit next year so do not damage or remove them. You’re going to want them.
- Net Crops to protect from Birds
LAWN CARE
- Remove patches of weeds before mowing
- Mow the grass regularly – raise the blades in hot, dry weather
- Spike lawns that need watering to aid irrigation Water new lawns in dry weather – a good soak rather than a light sprinkling
THE FLOWER GARDEN
- Continue to pot-on any perennials sown in pots
- Deadhead flowers as they finish
- Clear any dry foliage from Spring Bulbs, lift and divide clumps too
- Tender Annuals and Perennials can be planted out
- Use Annuals to fill gaps in mixed borders amongst Shrubs and Perennials
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
- Tie in new shoots on plants where needed
- Water the garden in dry weather, especially young and vulnerable plants
- Mulch the garden when the soil is moist
- Keep weeding, and generally looking out for any pests and diseases.
- Clean Ponds and Water features if not done in Late Spring
Broken down into manageable chunks there is nothing too onerous to do in Early Summer. Wander through your garden with your favourite beverage in your hand and enjoy the Season, knowing it’s all in hand.
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