June is one of the hottest months of the year, and it’s a critical time for gardeners to take action. While the month brings vibrant flowers and fluttering butterflies, it also presents challenges that need careful attention. Gardening expert Diarmuid Gavin has outlined essential tasks for gardeners to tackle this week and throughout the month.
Butterflies: A Double-Edged Sword for Gardens
Butterflies are a quintessential part of a summer garden, adding beauty and aiding pollination. Native species such as the Red Admiral, Peacock, Brimstone, Painted Lady, Comma, Green-veined White, and Small Tortoiseshell are common visitors. However, some species, like the Small White and Large White, lay their eggs on cabbage and other brassicas, leading to potential damage. Gardeners should inspect the undersides of leaves for butterfly eggs and remove them manually to prevent caterpillars from devouring the plants.
Weekly Gardening Tasks
This week, gardeners should focus on several key tasks:
Houseplants: Ensure houseplants in active growth are regularly watered and fed every two weeks.
Tomatoes and Fruit Bushes: Provide tomatoes with weekly feedings and water fruit bushes frequently during dry periods to help fruit swell.
Thinning Fruit: Thin out plums, pears, and apples to encourage larger fruit. This process, known as the “June drop,” also occurs naturally.
Planting: Sow nasturtium seeds directly into the ground or in pots for a late-summer flower display. Continue successional sowing of salads and plant outdoor crops such as cucumbers, sweetcorn, squash, and various beans.
Potatoes: Keep earthing up potatoes, and check if new potatoes are ready for harvest based on planting time.
Pruning: Prune spring-flowering deciduous shrubs like kerria, forsythia, ribes, and weigela after they finish flowering to control their size.
Roses: June’s Showstoppers
June is the peak flowering season for roses, which are renowned for their beauty and fragrance. However, roses are susceptible to pests and diseases, making this a crucial time for care.
Dealing with Aphids
Aphids, or greenfly, are a common problem for roses. These small insects gather on new leaves and buds, feeding on sap and excreting honeydew, which can lead to black mold. While aphids rarely cause severe damage, it’s wise to control their numbers. Gardeners can:
- Wipe them off with fingers.
- Gently hose them away.
- Use a homemade solution of water mixed with a splash of liquid detergent, applied directly to affected areas.
By following these tips, gardeners can enjoy a thriving garden in June while minimizing potential issues.
