This month offers garden abundance as spring moves into summer. The days are getting longer which gives gardeners more time to enjoy their yard. Plant summer crops for a continuous supply of delicious homegrown veges, pick and plant more berries, and keep planting a variety of vibrant flowers for a beautifully bright garden over the summer months.
GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS
ROSES (INCLUDING THE OLD FASHIONED AND SPECIES ROSES) ALSO RHODODENDRONS, ROCK PLANTS AND MANY BORDER PERENNIALS.
ORNAMENTAL GARDEN
Plant
Sow direct – alyssum, ageratum, aster, bells of Ireland, candytuft, chrysanthemum, clarkia, cornflower, cosmos, mignonette, phlox and strawflower. If the weather stays warm add arctotis, marigolds, morning glory, nasturtium, portulaca, sunflower and zinnia. Plant out rooted cuttings of dahlias, chrysanthemums and fuchsias, also dahlia and canna tubers. Lift and divide dahliasoverwintered in the ground. Plant waterlillies in still, sunny waters. Plant autumn flowering bulbs (acidanthera, colchicums, nerines and sternbergia) and a further batch of gladioli. Continue to plant evergreen shrubs, mulching generously.
Fertilise
Provide a soil enriched with compost and manure for new plantings of tubers, bulbs and rooted cuttings. Water ornamental borders once or twice with liquid fertiliser.
Prune
On evergreen ceanothus, deutzias and weigelas, trim back to strong bud shoots that have finished flowering. Thin out the oldest gnarled growth from forsythias and remove unwanted shoots from japonicas. Lightly trim manukas.
Watch for
Aphids, caterpillars, leaf spots and black spot, rust, powdery and downy mildews.
EDIBLE GARDEN
Plant
Beans (dwarf, pole), beets (silver, red) broccoli (early, mid-season), cape gooseberries, carrots, cauliflower (4 month), all cucurbits, kumara, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, peas, peppers, potatoes, radishes, spring onions, swedes, seetcorn, tomatoes and turnips.
Prune
Once grapes have flowered, shorten bearing shoots to four leaves beyond the bunch, cut out excess shoots and pinch ends of the rods to fit, if necessary.
Fertilise
Provide compost for all new plantings of veges and follow up, if necessary, with liquid organic feed. Feed citrus trees with compost and general organic fertiliser. Cover with a mulch of grass clippings or straw.
Watch for
Aphids, caterpillars (including codling moth), black spot, brown rot, powdery mildew, rust and viruses.
Things to do
Spread mulch on all bare soil, adding more as necessary. Protect new plantings from the wind, weather or pests with row covers. Harvest tangelos.
GARDEN MAINTENANCE
Watering
Apply water to all new plantings generously about once a week.
Rose care
Deadhead regulary, cutting back to an outward-facing bud, also trim out any weak and ingrowing shoots to let in light and air. Water if necessary and treat any pests or diseases.
Lawn care
On vigorous lawns lush mowings can smother grass, so use a catcher, but once the weather becomes dry let the clippings lie. Feed poor, weedy lawns with liquid fertiliser.
Things to do
Cover young weeds in borders with fresh mulch. Pinch back shoots of chrysanthemums and dahlias to get compact plants and stake before growth becomes floppy. To prevent narcissus fly eating the bulbs, apply diazinon granules around clumps and mulch thickly over dying leaves.
Need assistance
Please get in touch with the team at Lawn King.
