Having said that there is plenty to do, both in the green house and in the garden itself. Now is the time to plant out the summer bedding plants, that will give a riot of colour all through the summer and often into the autumn. Before planting you must prepare the soil in the planting area. Dig over the bed and remove any weeds, then apply either artificial fertiliser or if you can obtain it good farmyard manure or horse manure.

If you have grown your own plants, you can plant them at your own convenience, failing that you must rush off to the garden centre. It goes without saying that you will choose the best plants, but don't be seduced by plants in full bloom. It is better to choose plants that are about to flower; these will stand the shock of planting out far better. If you are not sure of your plants look on the label, they are very informative nowadays. After planting, water the area heavily, then water the plants frequently until the roots are established.

In the greenhouse, now is the time to harden off your hanging baskets and patio tubs ready to go outside, plus any other plants you have produced. Remember to pinch out the side shoots on your tomato plants. A light spraying with water on your tomato plants, in the evenings, will aid fruit setting. Warning, do not wet the leaves during the day, in the heat of the day water can boil on the leaves and severely damage them.

Watch out for pests in the greenhouse. As the weather warms up, so the insect population explodes. Spray with a suitable spray product as soon as infection is detected.

In the garden, slugs and snails make their presence felt at this time of year, especially amongst your perennials. Delphiniums are a favourite meal for your average slug. Take steps to eliminate them before too much damage is done.

Watch out for aphids on your plants especially lupins, aphids multiply fast at this time of year, they destroy plants by sucking out the sap, leaving the plant dry and wilting. There are suitable sprays available or you can wash them off with a weak mixture of detergent and water.

Outdoor tomatoes and runner beans can be planted out now, remember to buy a few garden canes to support the plants as they grow taller.

Talking of outdoor tomatoes, there are now several varieties of trailing tomato that can be grown in tubs and hanging baskets, They are readily available at retail outlets and produce small lovely tasting fruit. Just the thing to eat as you relax on the patio.

Also see JUNE GARDENING QUESTION AND ANSWER PAGE ONE.
and JUNE GARDENING QUESTION AND ANSWER PAGE TWO.
JUNE GARDENING Q & A PAGE THREE
and JUNE GARDENING QUESTION AND ANSWER PAGE FOUR.
GARDENING IN JUNE PAGE FIVE

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July    -------     Midsummer gardening guide.     -------

At this time of year lawns take heavy punishment, and a little time spent on maintenance will pay big dividends. If there is any moss in the lawn this can be removed with a lawn rake also pull out any perennial weeds. Then apply any of the proprietary brands of lawn fertiliser; carefully follow the directions on the box with regard to application. This will then give you a lawn to be proud of right into the autumn.