Things to do in the garden this month by Ian Clemens

  • Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as Lilies and Gladiolus into beds, borders and containers.
  • Divide Hostas before they come into leaf. Pot them up and bring them along to the WG Hort Soc next plant sale.
  • Divide primroses after they have flowered.
  • Deadhead daffodils and tulips as the flowers finish but leave the foliage intact allowing it to die back naturally.
  • Plant your chitted potatoes outside in the ground or in potato grow bags, but remember to keep well covered if there is a chance of frost.
  • Protect your fruit blossom from late frosts by covering them with fleece on cold nights.
  • Plant out strawberry beds, making sure you enrich the soil first with plenty of well-rotted manure. Place cloches over your strawberry plants for earlier crops.
  • Keep an eye on your seedlings – as soon as they have their first true leaves, prick them out into pots or modules for growing on.
  • If you haven’t already, give your greenhouse a thorough scrub with hot soapy water to get rid of pests and diseases and to let more light in. I actually spray mine with household bleach solution which seems to kill off everything.