This is a great month to be in the garden as there is plenty to do in the way of planting.

Borders

• Shorten long shoots and thin out old and weak wood from shrubs that have finished flowering.
• Weed beds and borders regularly.
• Thin out seedlings of hardy annuals that were sown directly into the soil.
• Sprinkle a Rose food around Rose plants to encourage strong growth and a good flower display.
• Spray Roses to control pest and disease if necessary.
• Support taller annuals and perennials with pea sticks pushed into the soil.
• Water newly planted shrubs and perennials in dry periods.
• Tie the new growth of climbers to their supports.

Bedding Plants

• Start to think about the plants you would like for autumn and winter colour and place your orders as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Continue planting out your summer flowering bedding plants.
• Feed your plants with a liquid plant food such as Westland feed-all or Miracle-Gro every week to give you more and better flowers.
• In hot weather, it is best to water in the evening.
• Snip off dead flower heads regularly to encourage more new flowers.

Containers

• Continue planting up containers with tender summer flowering plants.
• Water containers regularly even if it has rained, at least twice a day during hot weather.
• Turn hanging baskets regularly so that the plants develop evenly on all sides.

Lawns

• Mow lawns more frequently and reduce the cutting height if the grass is growing quickly.
• Feed tired lawns with a liquid lawn food to give them a boost.
• Control lawn weeds either by hand or with an appropriate weedkiller.
• Use a lawn edger to neaten up any untidy squashed or damaged lawn edges.

Fruit

• Tie new canes of Raspberries and Blackberries onto wires, keep them separate from last years growth.
• Pick Rhubarb regularly and do not allow it to form flower spikes.
• Remove damaged branches from Damsons and Plums.
• Spread nets over soft fruit bushes.
• Check fruit cages for tears or damage.
• Place straw or mats beneath developing Strawberries to protect from slugs.
• Finish harvesting Asparagus.
• Keep onions well watered to ensure that the bulbs swell.
• Pull up soil around main crop potatoes.
• Pinch out tips of broad beans to discourage blackfly.

The Vegetable Garden

• Thin out rows of previously sown vegetables to allow them to reach their potential.
• Plant leeks when the plants are as thick as a pencil.
• Keep onions well watered to ensure that the bulbs swell.
• Pull up soil around main crop potatoes.
• Pinch out tips of broad beans to discourage blackfly.

The Greenhouse

• Use shade paint or netting on greenhouses to prevent over heating and scorching of tender plants.
• Feed all plants at least once a week.
• Use a biological control or fumigate if pests are a problem.
• Open the vents each day to allow air to circulate.
• Remove side shoots from Tomatoes, but not bush varieties.
• Continue training and feeding Cucumbers and Melons.
• Pick male flowers from Cucumbers and pollinate female flowers.

Ponds

• Continue to feed pond fish.
• Remove any blanket weed by twirling it around a stick.
• Check filters on pumps to ensure they are not blocked.

General Tasks

• Continue to use slug and snail control to protect the new shoots of plants.
• If not already done, clean down and oil wooden garden furniture.