What to sow and plant in June

Jobs for established plants in June

• Deadhead and Feed
  Allium (Purple Sensation)

  Snap off faded flower heads (not the leaves) and give a high-potash feed to build up the bulb for next year.

• Fruit Thinning (if needed)
  Apple (Bramley's Seedling)

  Thin out excess fruit to encourage larger, healthier apples and prevent branch breakage.

• Thin the Fruit
  Apple (Columnar)

  Leave only one apple per cluster so the column is not overloaded.

• Water Pots Regularly
  Apple (Columnar)

  Pot-grown trees need watering every day or two in summer.

• Thin Fruit
  Apple (Golden Delicious)

  Once fruit has set, thin apples to 10-15cm apart to encourage larger, healthier fruit and prevent limb breakage.

• Summer Pest & Disease Check
  Apricot

  Continue monitoring for pests and diseases, especially as fruit ripens.

• Trim After Flowering
  Aquilegia (Granny's Bonnet)

  Cut flowered stems to the base once they fade (leave a few if you want seedlings) and remove mildewed leaves; fresh leaves soon follow.

• Stop Cutting
  Asparagus (Gijnlim)

  Stop cutting by midsummer and let the ferns grow to feed the crowns for next year.

• Ericaceous Feed
  Azalea (Japanese Evergreen)

  Feed with an ericaceous fertiliser and top up the bark mulch.

• Check Leaves for Pests
  Bay Tree

  Look for curled, yellowed leaf edges (bay sucker) and scale insects underneath. Pick off affected leaves.

• Tie In New Canes
  Blackberry (Loch Ness)

  Tie this year's new canes to the wires, keeping them separate from the fruiting ones.

• Net Against Birds
  Blackcurrant (Ben Sarek)

  Net the bushes before the fruit ripens.

• Let the Leaves Die Back
  Bluebell (English)

  Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering, until it yellows — don't knot or cut it. Then tidy it away.

• Net Against Birds
  Blueberry (Bluecrop)

  Net the bushes as the berries turn blue.

• Tie In New Canes
  Boysenberry (Thornless)

  Tie this year's new canes to the top wires, away from the fruiting canes.

• Move Outside
  Calamondin Orange

  Once nights stay above 10°C, move the pot to a sunny, sheltered patio.

• Deadhead and Feed
  Camassia

  Snap off faded flower heads (not the leaves) and give a high-potash feed to build up the bulb for next year.

• Trim After Flowering
  Ceanothus (Californian Lilac)

  Lightly trim the flowered shoots after flowering. Never cut back into old, bare wood — it will not regrow.

• Net Against Birds
  Cherry (Morello)

  Net the tree as the cherries start to colour — birds strip them in a day.

• Water During Dry Spells
  Cherry (Stella)

  Ensure the tree receives adequate water, especially during prolonged dry periods and when fruit is developing.

• Summer Pest & Disease Check
  Cherry (Stella)

  Continue monitoring for pests and diseases as the fruit ripens.

• Net Against Birds
  Cherry (Sunburst)

  Net the tree as the cherries start to colour — birds strip them in a day.

• Cut Back After Flowering
  Chives

  Cut the whole clump to 5 cm after flowering for a fresh flush of tender leaves.

• Divide Big Clumps
  Cowslip

  After flowering, lift and split crowded clumps to make more plants.

• Summer Watering Check (June)
  Crab Apple (Red Sentinel)

  Check soil moisture and water deeply during prolonged dry spells, especially for young trees.

• Leave Dormant in Summer
  Cyclamen (hederifolium)

  The leaves die away in summer — mark the spot so you do not dig into the tubers.

• Thinning Fruit
  Damson (Merryweather)

  If fruit set is very heavy, thin fruits to about 5-7cm apart to encourage larger fruit, prevent branch overload, and reduce disease risk.

• Summer Pruning (Pinching)
  Fig (Brown Turkey)

  Pinch back new growth to encourage fruit production and manage size.

• Feed
  Fuchsia (Hardy, Mrs Popple)

  Feed with a high-potash liquid feed every two weeks through summer.

• Weekly Feeds
  Geranium (Zonal Pelargonium)

  Feed weekly with a high-potash (tomato) feed for continuous flowers.

• Let the Leaves Die Back
  Grape Hyacinth

  Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering, until it yellows — don't knot or cut it. Then tidy it away.

• Pinch Out Side Shoots
  Grape Vine (Phoenix)

  Pinch out shoots two leaves beyond a flower bunch, and any shoots without flowers at five leaves.

• Summer Feed
  Hops

  Give a liquid feed every two weeks and water well in dry spells.

• Looking Its Best
  Hosta (June)

  Leaves at their best — a good moment for a photo.

• Let the Leaves Die Back
  Hyacinth (Mixed)

  Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering, until it yellows — don't knot or cut it. Then tidy it away.

• Tie In New Canes
  Japanese Wineberry

  Tie this year's new canes to the top wires, away from the fruiting canes.

• Net Against Birds
  Jostaberry

  Net the bushes before the fruit ripens.

• Prune
  Judas Tree (Forest Pansy)

  Prune only if needed, after flowering — remove crossing branches.

• Move Outside
  Kumquat (Nagami)

  Once nights stay above 10°C, move the pot to a sunny, sheltered patio.

• Move Outside
  Lemon (Meyer)

  Once nights stay above 10°C, move the pot to a sunny, sheltered patio. Harden it off over a week.

• Regular Harvest & Pruning
  Lemon Balm

  Harvest leaves regularly throughout summer to encourage continuous new growth. Snip off flower buds early in the season to maintain leaf flavor. Cut back leggy stems to promote…

• Move Outside
  Lemongrass

  Put the pot out on a sunny patio once nights are warm.

• Deadhead
  Lilac (Common)

  Snip off the faded flower heads just above the new shoots below them.

• Prune
  Lilac (Common)

  After flowering, cut one or two of the oldest stems to the base to keep the shrub young; remove suckers.

• Move Outside
  Limequat

  Once nights stay above 10°C, move the pot to a sunny, sheltered patio.

• Tie In New Canes
  Loganberry (Thornless)

  Tie this year's new canes to the top wires, away from the fruiting canes.

• Cut Back for Fresh Leaves
  Lovage

  Cut some stems to the ground in midsummer — fresh, tender leaves regrow quickly.

• Deadhead
  Lupin (Gallery Mixed)

  Cut spent spikes back to the leaves for a smaller second flush.

• Trim After Flowering
  Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya)

  After flowering, trim lightly to keep a neat shape; shorten any straggly shoots.

• Water in Dry Spells
  Mulberry (Black)

  Young mulberries drop fruit if they dry out. Give a deep soak weekly in dry weather.

• Thin the Fruit
  Nectarine (Lord Napier)

  Thin fruitlets to one every 15 cm once they are hazelnut-sized.

• Move Outside
  Orange (Sweet, Pot-Grown)

  Once nights stay above 10°C, move the pot to a sunny, sheltered patio.

• Cut Back for Second Harvest
  Oregano

  Cut back plants in June to prevent flowering and encourage a flush of new, flavourful growth for a second harvest. You can let some plants flower for pollinators.

• Water During Dry Spells (Early Summer)
  Peach (Peregrine)

  Ensure consistent moisture, especially during fruit development.

• Thin Fruit (if needed)
  Pear (Concorde)

  If fruit set is heavy, thin clusters to 1-2 pears every 15-20cm (6-8 inches) in early summer to encourage larger, healthier fruit and prevent branch breakage.

• Thinning Fruit
  Pear (Conference)

  Thin fruit to 1-2 pears per cluster, spaced 15-20cm apart, to encourage larger fruit and prevent biennial bearing.

• Deadhead
  Peony (Sarah Bernhardt)

  Remove faded flowers back to a leaf. Enjoy — and photograph — the blooms first!

• Remove Flowers
  Peppermint

  Pinch off any mauve flowers as they appear to prevent seed production and encourage more leaf growth.

• Thin the Fruit
  Plum (Opal)

  Thin heavy crops to one plum every 5–8 cm so branches do not snap.

• Thinning Fruit
  Plum (Victoria)

  Thin developing plums to 5-10cm apart after the 'June drop' to encourage larger, healthier fruit and prevent branch breakage.

• Net Against Birds
  Raspberry (Glen Ample)

  Cover with netting as the fruit starts to colour.

• Net Against Birds
  Redcurrant (Jonkheer van Tets)

  Net before the berries colour.

• Snap Off Faded Flowers
  Rhododendron

  Carefully snap off dead flower trusses just above the new buds — don't damage the buds below.

• Second Feed
  Rose (English Shrub)

  A second dose of rose feed after the first flush encourages repeat flowering.

• Net Against Birds
  Saskatoon Berry

  Net the bush as the berries start to colour — birds love them.

• Remove Flower Stems
  Sea Kale

  Cut off flower stems so the energy goes into the crown.

• Let the Leaves Die Back
  Snake's Head Fritillary

  Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering, until it yellows — don't knot or cut it. Then tidy it away.

• Remove Flower Stems
  Sorrel (Broad-Leaved)

  Cut off flower stems as they appear to keep leaves coming.

• Move Outside
  Stevia

  Stand the pot in a sunny, sheltered spot once nights are warm.

• Tie In New Canes
  Tayberry

  Tie this year's new canes to the top wires, away from the fruiting canes.

• Let the Leaves Die Back
  Tulip (Apricot Beauty)

  Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering, until it yellows — don't knot or cut it. Then tidy it away.

• Lift Tulips (Optional)
  Tulip (Apricot Beauty)

  Tulips often flower less in later years. Lift bulbs once the leaves have died, dry and store them, and replant in November — or treat them as annuals.

• Move Outside
  Vietnamese Coriander

  Stand the pot outside in a warm, part-shaded spot once nights are mild.

• Prune
  Weigela (Florida Variegata)

  Straight after flowering, cut the stems that flowered back to strong young shoots, and remove a few old stems at the base.

• Net Against Birds
  Whitecurrant (White Versailles)

  Net before the berries ripen.

Other months

What to sow in January, What to sow in February, What to sow in March, What to sow in April, What to sow in May, What to sow in July, What to sow in August, What to sow in September, What to sow in October, What to sow in November and What to sow in December.