Welcome to Seasonal Gardening

June Gardening Tasks

Now that the weather is warmer it's time to start sowing biennials and perennials outside. Also, once the danger of frost has past in your area, you can harden off and plant out bedding plants in borders, containers and hanging baskets to fill the garden with a real burst colour.

Continue watering in dry weather and keep on top of weeds until the borders have filled out.

Ensure the greenhouse is well ventilated - dampen down and apply shading if necessary.

Don't forget to add much needed plant supports for tall-growing flowers before they collapse!

Taking Cuttings in June

Now is an ideal time to start taking cuttings, which is much easier to do than you think and a great way to increase your stock of flowers, plants and shrubs for free. Plants that can be easily propagated at this time of year include Catmint, Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, Penstemons, Old-fashioned pinks and Perennial wallflowers (Erysimum).

Time to Sow Biennials

Although there will be plenty of summer colour in the garden this month, you can still plan ahead and sow ready for next year. Hardy biennials, such as Canterbury bells (Campanula medium), foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) sweet william (Dianthus barbatus) and wallflowers (Erysimum) can all be germinated now, ready for an inexpensive tapestry of colour next year. Sow hardy biennials directly into nursery patches or borders, where they are to flower. Alternatively sow in pots or trays outdoors and transfer to their flowering positions in the autumn.

Plant of the Month

Alstroemeria

Of all the garden lilies, the Alstroemeria is my all time favourite. With its low growing drifting habit, it spreads through the borders and flowers for such a long season, if dead headed regularly.

Garden of the Month

Valley Gardens, Harrogate

Seventeen acres of beautifully landscaped, Grade II Listed gardens, situated in the heart of Harrogate. Contains a wide variety of flowering shrubs, plants and mature trees. Prized for its rhododendron edged stream at the bottom of the valley.

Open all year and free to visit.