Gardening jobs to do this week

Fruit, vegetables and herbs

Occasional good days have been followed by showers. Finish any remaining pruning of fruit trees and bushes.

Wait until the soil dries out to sow the main run of vegetables, all the common kinds, such as parsnips, carrots, peas, broad beans, lettuce, onions and possibly cabbage and cauliflower.

Trees, shrubs and roses

It is too late for bare-root planting of deciduous trees, or moving deciduous trees or shrubs.

But they can be planted from pots, though make sure to water until they are actively growing. Evergreens can be moved unless they are showing a lot of new extension growth. Prune roses.

Flowers

Plant perennial flowers from pots, watering well. Tidy up between flowers and remove or chop up old flower stalks that are now withered.

Seeds of summer bedding can be sown for the fast developers, such as dahlias and French marigolds, but it is too late for the slow kinds.

Lawn

Lawns were slow to get going this spring. If growth is poor and lawns look tired, apply some high-nitrogen fertiliser or lawn feed when the weather warms up a little.

Sulphate of iron can be applied to control moss and the dead moss can be left in place over a large area as long as the grass is fed.

Greenhouse and house plants

All greenhouse plants should be well fed and watered. Check for pests and control them early, if necessary.

If strawberries in a tunnel are in flower, make sure to pollinate by allowing some air pass through. Plant out tomatoes, chillies and sweet pepper plants from seed or purchased plants.

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