This is the best month to sow or repair a new lawn from seed before the soil becomes too dry. Preparation is the key to a good lawn – it’s much easier to fix soil problems before you’ve got your new lawn in place. Clearing the area by removing any large stones, weeds or other debris will reward you with better grass growth. If you have clay soil, mix in sharp sand to aid drainage and help prevent the build-up of moss.
Feed and weed lawns during this month to encourage good growth and be sure to mow them regularly. Mowing is the best way to ensure you have a good lawn. Once a week is about right. Don’t apply weed killer either just before mowing or just after as the weeds need to be actively growing when they are treated. Treat weeds such as dandelions in your lawn with a selective weed killer. This is the best month to do this as the weeds are now actively growing.
You can now begin harvesting the first delicious early vegetables, planted out earlier in the year. To guarantee a regular succession of young vegetables throughout the summer months, sow seeds at weekly intervals so you don’t get a glut all at once. Although it’s a bit of a chore, hoe in between plants and vegetables as the weeds start to spurt in the warmer weather. Keeping on top of the weeds at this time of year will pay off in the long term. Sow and plant out tender vegetables at the end of the month.
When growing fruit and vegetables it’s vital to attract pollinating insects to increase the chances of a bumper harvest. The best way to do this is by growing some nectar-heavy flowering plants around the edibles. For example, sowing seeds of poached egg flowers directly under soft fruits will attract bees, hoverflies and other beneficial creatures. A good plant partnership is to grow sweet peas with climbing beans on a wigwam of canes. The sweet peas provide colour and interest to the structure, along with attracting pollinators. For other ideas on companion planting see the article on our website: https://oxfordgardendesign.co.uk/companion-planting/