June is a wonderful month in the UK garden, where summer is fully underway and nature is at its most vibrant. With longer days and warmer temperatures, June offers ample opportunities to plant flowers that will flourish through summer and well into autumn. Whether you are working with a large country garden, a small city balcony or a modest backyard, knowing what to plant in June will help you maintain a garden bursting with colour and life.
Embracing the Full Bloom of Summer
By June, many spring flowers have finished their display, but the garden is far from resting. This is the perfect time to plant summer bedding plants such as begonias, petunias, and salvias. These plants flourish in sunny, well-drained spots and containers, providing continuous blooms throughout the warmer months.
Summer-flowering bulbs like dahlias and gladiolus can also be planted now for a dazzling show later in the season. Dahlias, in particular, offer a wide range of colours and forms, from small pom-poms to large dinner-plate varieties, making them a versatile choice for any garden.
Sowing and Planting for Late Summer Colour
June is ideal for sowing hardy annuals outdoors, including sunflowers, cosmos, and marigolds. These flowers are easy to grow and bring cheerful, long-lasting colour that attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
For gardeners interested in perennials, planting late-blooming varieties like asters and sedums now will extend the flowering season into autumn, adding rich hues and texture to your beds and borders.
Container Gardening in June
Containers and hanging baskets can be refreshed with summer-flowering plants in June to keep your outdoor spaces vibrant. Trailing plants such as lobelia and bacopa paired with upright flowers like salvias or fuchsias create dynamic and colourful displays. Regular feeding with a balanced liquid fertiliser and consistent watering ensures your container plants remain healthy and flowering.
Preparing Soil and Ongoing Care
In June, soil tends to warm up and dry out more quickly, so it’s essential to keep plants well watered, particularly in containers or newly planted beds. Mulching helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Organic mulches such as bark chips or composted leaves also improve soil fertility as they break down.
Deadheading spent flowers encourages many plants to produce more blooms, prolonging the flowering period. Keep an eye out for pests such as aphids or slugs, especially on tender new growth, and manage them promptly using organic or chemical controls as preferred.
Adapting to Small and Urban Spaces
For those with limited space, June is a great time to add compact flowering plants to pots and window boxes. Plants such as calibrachoa, dwarf dahlias and pansies provide vibrant colour without taking up much room. Vertical gardening with climbing plants like morning glories or sweet peas can add height and interest.
Using good-quality, peat-free compost and ensuring containers have adequate drainage are key to successful urban gardening.
Sustainability and Wildlife Benefits
Planting flowers that attract pollinators supports biodiversity and helps maintain healthy ecosystems. Flowers like cosmos, marigolds and asters are particularly good for bees and butterflies. Avoiding chemical pesticides and using organic feeding methods will promote a balanced garden environment.
Collecting rainwater and watering in the cooler parts of the day reduces water use and prevents plant stress during warmer weather.
In Summary
June is a vibrant and rewarding month for planting in the UK garden. From summer bedding plants and flowering bulbs to sowing hardy annuals and refreshing containers, the opportunities are plentiful to keep your garden colourful and full of life. With proper care and attention, your June plantings will provide stunning blooms that last throughout the summer and into early autumn.
