1. 18 Essential Gardening Tasks for Summer
WithMay almostoverit’stime toprepare for the gardeningtaskswhichface usthissummer – and
whilstyoumaythinka lotof the hard workin termsof plantingandpreparationhasalreadybeen
done duringSpring,you’ll be surprised athow muchthere is still todo in the summer.
June:
 If your deckingorpatiois lookingalittle grubby,issufferingfromalgae ormoss – remove it
withoutthe needforextensiveelbow grease.Instead,turntoyourpressure washer1
and
give ita thoroughblast,before scrubbinganyremainingdirt away withahard bristledbrush.
 June isa great time to enjoythe flurryof flowersandcolourwhichbloomsthroughoutyour
garden.But itisn’tjustflowerswhichare likelytobe growingthroughoutyourflowerbeds –
weedswill be too.
One of the bestwaysto tackle this,withoutthe needtochemical products,istouse a hoe to
liftthe weedoutof the ground,before leavingitonthe surface to witheranddie inthe sun.
 Unfortunately,asmuchas we’dlike themto – flowerswon’tlastall seasoninourgarden,so
it’simportantto deadheadthem.Once the flowershave becomespent, we recommendyou
deadheadthematthe earliestopportunity,asthiswill helpdivert energyfromproducing
seedsintoproducingnewflowers.
For those tallerflowers,make sure they’restakedsotheyare adequatelyprotectedagainst
any windsoradverse weatherwe mayexperience.
 Keyto helpingpromote healthygrowthinyourgardenistowater the flowerbeds,potsand
lawnregularly. Whenwateringyourgarden,it’sequallyimportanttoremainwaterwise –
whichiswhywe recommendreusingdishwater(aslongasit isn’ttoo greasyor have too
much detergentin) orfromrainwaterwhichhas beenstoredina waterbutt.
 All yourhard workin the gardencan be undone byMotherNature,sothroughoutJune
make sure you’re keepinganeye outforany pestswhichcouldfeastonyourflowersor
make your gardenlookunkempt.
If it’sthe neighbour’scatwhichiscausinga nuisance inyourgarden,consideraddingcat
repellerrodsinyourflowerbeds; andtoprotect anyfruitplantsfrombirdsit’s
recommendedtoplace lightnettingoverthe plants.
Throughoutthe monthyoushouldalsomake sure you are regularlycheckingyourrose
bushesformildew,aphid,black-spotandotherdiseases. If theyappear,tackle the issue
immediatelyusingadedicatedchemical treatment. [source:TheGarden Helper]
 Your lawnwill require alotof TLC2
throughoutJune,includingbeingtreatedwithacomplete
lawnfertilisertopromote healthygrowth,whilstyoushouldalsocutiton at leasta weekly

2. basis.
As a rule of thumb,we recommendcuttingalittle off yourlawnon a regularbasis
throughoutJune,althoughtake care toonlyadd a thinlayer of grasscuttingsto your
compostbin.Addingtoomuchgrass cuttingcan resultina wetsoggymessratherthan
compost. [source:RHS]
 More and more of usare beginningtogrow ourown fruitandvegetablesathome orat an
allotment.Alongwithknowingwhentoplantthem, we needtoknow whentoharvestthem
– andduringJune youshouldbe harvestingyourlettuce,radishandothersalad.
By harvestingsuchvegetables,you’llalsobe providingspace toplant warmweather
vegetables,suchassquash.
 Shade yourgreenhouse tohelpkeepitcool duringthe hotspellsthissummer.Providing
adequate shadingforyourgreenhouse willalsohelptopreventany scorchingtothe plants
whichyou’re growinginit.
July:
 As June rollsintoJuly,muchof the gardeningworkwill roll overtoo –includingthe
deadheadingof beddingplantsandrepeat-floweringperennials.By continuingtodeadhead
plantsinJuly, you’ll helptoensure continuousfloweringtoprovide yourgardenwithawall
of colour.
 Prune summerbloomingshrubs,once they’vestoppedflowering,makingsure toremove
any deador diseasedbranches.Carryingoutsucha task will helptoensure the shrubs
maintaina healthygrowthasthe yearprogresses. [source:TheGarden Helper]
 It isn’tjustjobswhichhave rolledoverwhichwillneedtobe carriedoutinthe garden during
July,youshouldalsobe usingthe monthto plantautumnfloweringbulbstoensure come
the newseasonyourgardenis greetedwithnew colour.
 Provide woodworkinyourgardenwithafreshcoat of paint.Not onlycan thishelpprotect
themfromthe elements,butitwill alsoaddanew lease of life andadditional colourtoyour
garden– forminimal work. [source:RHS]
August:
 Checkyour mulchhasn’tdecomposed,if ithasaddmore and continue tocheckthroughout
the monthto ensure youkeepontop of it. [source:About.com]
 Collectseedsfromyourfavourite plants,readytostartgrowingthemduringautumnand
wintersoyoucan enjoythem againnextsummer.

3.  If you’ve beengrowingfruitinyourgarden(orat an allotment) Augustisthe time toprune
restrictedfruits,cutoutoldfruitedcanesonraspberriesandlift/pop-uprootedstrawberry
runners. [source:RHS]
 WithAugusttraditionallybeingone of the hottestmonthsof the year,whencuttingthe
lawnyou’ll needtotake extracare.It’srecommendedtocheckyourmower’sblade forany
imperfections –andsharpen / replace yourlawnmowerblade3
if necessary –and to raise the
heightof the blade soyou’re onlytakinga little off the grasswitheachcut. Thiswill help
protectyour lawnfromdraughtdamage.
 Continue totackle weedsthroughoutyourflowerbeds,patiosandpathways.Bytackling
these little andoftenyou’ll be able tohelpyourgardenremainintopcondition.However,
it’srecommendedtoavoidusingchemical weedkillersasthese canhave an adverse effect
on yourplants,shrubsand lawn. [source:WyevaleGarden Centres]
 Duringthe month you’ll need tomake sure you’re regularlywateringandfeedingyour
plants,especiallythose inhangingbasketsandpots.If you’re takingyourannual summer
holidayduringAugustdon’tneglectyourgarden –aska friend/neighbourtowateritwhilst
you’re away.
Keepingontopof your gardenthroughoutthe summerandcarryingout the tasks mentionedabove
little andoften,willhelptoensure yourgardencontinuesto bloomandprovidesyouwithanoasis
to relax andunwindin.
Do you haveany otheressential gardening tasksyou thinkweshould becarrying outduring the
summermonths?Sharethemin the commentsection below,and help yourfellow green-fingered
BuySparesblog readers.
1
Linkto: http://www.buyspares.co.uk/pressure-washer-spares/catalogue.pl?path=488206:496933
2
Linkto: http://blog.buyspares.co.uk/gardening-tips/4-effective-ways-achieve-luscious-lawn/
3
Linkto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNE94QkpNdQ