June, the month that slipped under the radar, unnoticed as we scrambled to keep gardens alive. There was a bit of frantic maintenance needed as the sun took away all traces of moisture and the hard work of recent weeks was fried. The sun was fierce and such rain as we saw was presented in torrential bursts. One day it seemed just rolled into another and many things just stood still. Many lawns took a thump too. It has all been about feeding and watering and in July these tasks remain a top priority. Be gentle with the lawn as it tries to recover and regular trimming with the blade set high will be sensible. In spite of the punishment, we still have expectations of a later performance. Tomatoes and cucumbers are showing movement and rather bizarrely green stuff seems to have loved it, I have some very leafy cabbage. This month continue to find space for pinches of salad, there are plants available, but seed will germinate quite quickly. As these plants move towards readiness, get harvesting, if the weather stays dry, they will have a short shelf life and will run to seed quickly (I have thrown out lettuce and radish this week, both in flower). The over wintered bedding and perennials all did rather well. Restore now, cutting back delphinium and iris and pulling out sweet William. The seed on sweet William is viable, so do shake the lifted plants well and within a few weeks next year’s seedlings will become obvious in your border.

With the autumn now just two months away, you can be planning your sowing of winter pansies, wallflowers and other over wintering biennials like Brompton stocks and forget me nots. Spring Cabbage and Perpetual Spinach also need sowing soon. All these things are easier to manage in pots and trays initially. Wallflowers (being tap rooted) should be broadcast into larger pots to make autumn transplanting easier. On the shopping list this month are autumn bulbs, most notably autumn crocus. Available in several shades and most popularly in blue, these showy plants will flower this autumn, delivering traditional (but large) crocus trumpets on naked stems, with foliage only appearing later.

And finally watch the hedgerows, the season has encouraged a proliferation of umbelliferous plants the most notable of which is the Cow Parsley, but it has been joined by heady showings of Hemlock and Hogweed (both of which are interesting but poisonous).

Happy Gardening

Chris Evans
www.dundrynurseries.co.uk
www.thebutterflygarden.org