The seeds to sow in your garden now to have it blooming all through summer

WHEN the Scottish weather allows it, June is a great month to spend as much time as possible outdoors.

Gardens will be coming to life with bursts of growth and flowering
throughout the month.

And with everything growing so quickly, it’s important to keep on
top of the essential gardening jobs.

Gardening expert Nigel Lawton has shared his handy gardening guide for June – including what seeds to sow right now to make your garden a riot of colour as the summer progresses.

While your plants are growing with the light and warmth of summer, weeds may also sprout in the heat.

Dobbies’ Plant Buyer Nigel explains that hoeing weeds regularly during the dry weather is the best way to keep on top of them.

He adds: “Using weed killer such as Resolva ready-to-use 24 hour weedkiller in some areas is an effective way to combat this, and
applying a thick layer of mulch over the soil surface helps prevent more weeds growing.

“Protecting your plants from hot and dry weather is important at this time of year. Watering plants regularly when the weather is dry and warm, and mulching plants with organic matter to lock in moisture and improve soil quality over time, is a great way to protect plants.

“Don’t forget to water pots and containers too, and every few weeks add a liquid feed, such as Wesland Boost all purpose liquid plant feed, to containers and hanging baskets, to help produce up to four times more flowers.

“Protect herbaceous plants, such as Delphinium and Hosta, from slug damage using pest control repellents, and protect strawberry plants from hungry birds.”

Although June is a great time to sow seeds and plant young plants due to the warmer soil and high temperatures, Nigel explains that the heat may also dry the soil out.

He emphasises the importance of watering your plants as often as needed during long, hot spells.

Nigel’s top picks for the best flower seeds to sow in June include; pansies, violas, primroses, calendula, godetia, lupins, delphiniums, and the last chance to sow coreopsisa.

For fruit and veg, June is a good time to grow salad crops. Nigel’s selects include beetroot, lettuce, pak choi and radish.

Peas, sweetcorn, cucumbers, squash, marrows, courgettes, turnips, and broccoli are all good to plant while it’s the last chance to grow pumpkins.

Many flowers in your garden will be full of growth and colour in June but it is still the perfect time to fill other areas that you can admire for the rest of the summer.

Dobbies’ plant of the month is a rose, as the rose season is just beginning. June is a great time to pick new varieties to add to planters and borders for summer displays.

Nigel’s top picks for bedding and border flowers also include dahlia, cosmos and nicotiana for their fast growing during the high summer.

He adds: “Fuchsias are ideal to plant this month as they bloom throughout summer to the early frosts, and for a pop of colour begonias, marigolds, and nasturtiums are also a good choice.

“To add volume to borders, plant shrubs like lavender, rhododendron or even herbs.

“In the pots and containers bringing colour to your walls and doorways, some good choices would be begonias, petunias, and dianthus. For more permanent containers, consider planting Japanese acers, hydrangeas, or cordyline for an eye-catching look.

“Prune spring flowering shrubs when flowers have faded and early season herbaceous plants, such as geranium and Oriental poppies, can be cut back after flowering to encourage re-growth of new foliage.

When it comes to lawn care, Nigel recommends regular mowing, at least once a week and says this is best if the weather is dry and not too hot to get the perfectly manicured lawn.

He says: “Reduce the cutting height of your mower now that the
grass is growing quicker. During heatwaves, it’s best not to mow your lawn as it will already be struggling in the hot, dry weather.

“If you have to mow your lawn in hot weather, raise the height of your mower blades and water your grass after mowing.”

It is also important to consider the wildlife in these warmer months. Nigel explains that bird baths make a nice feature in any garden and also create a safe habitat for birds as a source of water and place to cool off in summer heat.