GENERAL

Place the garden furniture and barbecue in their positions for the summer. Although cleaned before being put away they will need attention before being used.

Everywhere seedling weeds are appearing. Work regularly with a hoe around all established plantings. Where appropriate a mulch can be applied.

This is a good time to apply a general organic fertilizer to all established plantings.

LAWN

Watch new lawns carefully for drying out. Freshly turfed lawns are susceptible to shrinkage if they become dry and this can also impair the germination and growth of seedling grass where a lawn is being created from seed.

Where weeds like daisies and dandelions are troublesome, they can be treated with a broad-leafed lawn weedkiller. This kills the weeds but leaves the grass untouched.

POND

Established aquatic plants can be fed with a specialist aquatic plant fertilizer tablet or sachet placed in the compost next to each plant.

If the pond is continually green with suspended algae introduce more submerged plants to mop up excessive nutrients. Also increase the shading of the surface of the pool to reduce light beneath by introducing another waterlily or deep water aquatic like water hawthorn.

FLOWERS

As the spring flowering bedding fades it should be removed and the soil prepared to receive summer flowering bedding.

Tulips and other bulbs which are part of a bedding scheme and can be kept for planting for next spring, should be carefully removed with as little disturbance as possible and placed in an open sunny position in another part of the garden. They can then be allowed to die back slowly and naturally.

Any prominent groups of spring flowering bulbs that are seen to be developing seed heads should have them removed. However, foliage should always be allowed to die back naturally.

Continue to monitor climbing and wall plants and where necessary tie them into their supports.

Check roses and other grafted plants for suckers and remove them immediately they are spotted. Never cut suckers off, but tear them away from the roots.

VEGETABLES

Weed all young vegetable plants and keep on top of thinning the seedlings of those such as carrots, parsnips and spinach.

Plant out marrows, courgettes, ridge cucumbers and sweet corn.

Plant out leeks and celery. With leeks make sure that the "flags" or leaves which are arranged in a single plane all lie in the same direction to assist future cultivation.

Sow beetroot and garden swede directly into the open ground, along with dwarf French and runner beans.

FRUIT

Prepare the strawberry bed. As soon as any fruits show signs of colouring place a layer of straw around the plants and protect the strawberries from birds and squirrels by erecting a small netting structure. 

Tie in the shoots of any wall fruits as they develop. Remove any that are unwanted along with any suckering growth.

GREENHOUSE

Harden off all bedding plants and tender vegetable plants prior to planting out.

Any bedding plants that cannot be planted out when they have filled their allocated place in seed tray or pot should receive a general liquid feed.

Shade the greenhouse and ensure that it is ventilated as necessary. In warm weather "damp down" the floor with water in order to produce humidity.

Biological controls for whitefly and mealy bug can be introduced. Alternatively try sticky traps.

As tomatoes, peppers and aubergines start to flower begin feeding with a high potash liquid feed.