Practical gardening advice for UK gardens
What to do this month

June gardening jobs

June usually brings some of the strongest growth of the gardening year. Long days and warmer temperatures encourage vegetables, flowers, lawns and weeds to grow rapidly, although conditions can range from cool and wet to prolonged dry spells depending on location and the season.

Most tender plants can now move outdoors once local frost risk has passed, including in many colder parts of the UK. Watering, feeding, supporting plants and keeping weeds under control become increasingly important. The first substantial harvests also begin, while regular sowing can keep vegetables and salads productive later in the year. Greenhouses may require shading and generous ventilation as temperatures rise.

UK conditions vary. Adjust timings for your local weather, soil and exposure.

Key gardening jobs

  • Water newly planted crops, trees and shrubs thoroughly during dry spells so moisture reaches deeper roots.
  • Apply organic mulch around established plants where needed to conserve soil moisture and suppress emerging weeds.
  • Shade greenhouse glazing where excessive temperatures are causing plants to wilt or leaves to scorch.
  • Tie in tomatoes, runner beans, sweet peas and other climbing plants as their new growth develops.
  • Feed containers and hanging baskets regularly once their original compost nutrients begin to run low.
  • Hoe annual weeds before they flower or set seed, concentrating on warm dry days when uprooted weeds will quickly wilt.
  • Mow frequently used lawn areas as required, while allowing selected areas of longer grass to flower for wildlife.
  • Deadhead repeat flowering plants regularly where appropriate to encourage further flowers and keep displays productive.

What to sow and plant

  • Sow beetroot, lettuce, radish and other salad crops outdoors in small batches for continued harvests.
  • Sow French beans and runner beans outdoors while there is still enough growing season for them to crop well.
  • Sow peas outdoors for later harvests, choosing suitable varieties and providing supports as plants develop.
  • Sow courgettes, pumpkins and squash outdoors early in the month where conditions are sufficiently warm.
  • Sow kale, kohl rabi and other suitable brassicas outdoors or in a seedbed for autumn and winter crops.
  • Plant out sweet peppers and aubergines once nights are reliably warm, using a greenhouse or other protected position in cooler regions.
  • Plant out celery and celeriac into moisture retentive, fertile soil and keep them well watered as they establish.
  • Plant summer bedding and other tender ornamentals outdoors once local frost risk has passed.

What to prune and harvest

  • Prune spring flowering shrubs such as weigela, philadelphus and deutzia after flowering has finished.
  • Prune deciduous magnolias later in the month if necessary, once they are fully in leaf.
  • Clip evergreen hedges where needed only after checking thoroughly for active bird nests.
  • Cut back hardy geraniums and other sprawling perennials after flowering if the foliage has become untidy.
  • Harvest early potatoes once tubers have reached a useful size and plants have developed sufficiently.
  • Harvest peas regularly as pods fill to encourage plants to continue producing.
  • Harvest broad beans while the beans are still tender and before the pods become coarse.
  • Pick strawberries regularly as they colour fully, removing damaged or mouldy fruit at the same time.

Problems to watch

  • Watch containers and newly planted crops for drought stress during hot, dry or windy weather.
  • Check soft new growth for aphids and remove small colonies before infestations become established.
  • Inspect brassicas for cabbage white butterfly eggs and caterpillars and remove them where practical.
  • Watch young vegetables and ornamentals for slug and snail damage after rain or overnight.
  • Check container plants for vine weevil damage, particularly where plants appear unexpectedly weak or wilted.
  • Inspect greenhouse plants for red spider mite, whitefly and thrips as temperatures increase.
  • Watch susceptible plants for powdery mildew during warm, dry periods or where air circulation is poor.
  • Check gooseberries and related plants for sawfly larvae and act quickly if leaves begin disappearing.
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