Every month, we offer tips and hints for the budding gardener - what to do, how do we do it, when to do it - to give you that little bit of extra help everyone needs. Our resident gardening expert, Jim Smith from West Sound Radio, will advise on what needs to be done now, and what preparation is required for what you will need to do soon.

By following our advice, based on over 40 years in the horticulture business, you should find not only your fingers, but your neighbours, turning green!

It's as easy as A, B, C and best of all it's FREE!

This month's tips - June

	Check hanging baskets and containers regularly to see if plants need water - use dilute liquid feed instead of water.
	Pest and disease control - spray regularly against greenfly and blackspot on roses with a systemic action product such as ''Roseclear 2''.
	Slugs and snails control - use slug pellets (or liquid) or beer traps. (Margarine tubs sunk into the ground and level with it, containing beer). Snails can also be picked up by hand.
	Good quality bedding and basket plants can still be obtained at the nursery.
	Dead-head regularly plants such as roses and all bedding plants. Petunias and pansies will benefit from having fading blooms removed as this will allow them to bloom over many months.
	Also dead-head all herbaceous plants after they have finished flowering - the garden looks tidier and if you prevent them setting seed, they are encouraged to produce new blooms later in the year. (Dead-head herbaceous plants using secateurs or shears).
	Propagate plants from cuttings when growth is active and new roots are quick to form.
	Plant begonia tubers (which have been brought on) into the garden or into containers and window boxes.
	Divide early flowering plants such as primroses and polyanthus. (Primroses and polyanthus dislike chemical fertilisers, so use organic compost-available at lowest ever prices at Sunnyside - when you space them out in a shady part of the garden).
	If border carnations are to produce large blooms, they will need to be disbudded.
	Protect soft fruit (raspberries, etc.) from birds by having nets over the plants or building a fruit cage.
	Spray against red spider mite as this pest attacks many plants, including apple trees during warm weather.
	This month, pay particular attention to watering in the greenhouse.
	Heathers root close to the surface of the soil so, if weeding is necessary, do it by hand and disturb the soil as little as possible.
	Remove ''suckers'' as they form from the base of all rose bushes.

Submit a tip

Would you like to submit your own tip? If so then please use our submission form below. Name (required): Email (optional): Your tip: