June is nearly here, and it’s a time of year that it’s really important to pay attention to your garden. This is the month that summer time in the UK officially begins, hopefully bringing some bright and sunny weather.
It’s also when a lot of plants and flowers burst into life or start producing fruit. And because of this, it’s crucial that you give your garden that little bit of extra TLC in June. There’s one task that should be done around once a week in order to make your plants, especially flowers and tomatoes, thrive.
Jane Fairlie, technical development manager at Doff Portland – a manufacturer of premium garden care products – says one task should be a priority in your gardens this month.
June is a time of vigorous growth, and your plants will be working hard to produce flowers, fruit and foliage.
“Regular feeding is key this month,” said Jane. “Use a liquid plant feed every 7 to 10 days on flowering plants, tomatoes and hanging baskets to keep them in top condition.”
Aside from feeding your plants, it’s also really important to make sure they are getting enough water – especially if the weather gets hotter in June.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, watering your plants in the morning is best, because this is when your plants need a drink the most.
Although it might seem like watering in the middle of the day is more effective, this isn’t the case – the heat of the day means the water will evaporate and not actually penetrate the soil.
There’s no rule of thumb for how frequently you should water, because every plant has different needs. The larger and more leaves a plant has, the more water it is likely to lose and the more nutrients it needs.
Where the plant is growing will also effect how often it needs watered. The experts say that a big plant in a small pot will need more frequent watering than one planted in a border.
But generally, if your plants are starting to droop, curl or look dull, then it means it’s time to water them.