From nourishing your borders to keeping your lawn neatly trimmed, staying on top of your garden tasks now will ensure a lush and lively display through the summer months. According to Chris Cooper, gardening and lawn expert at Hayter, it's a month of balance – between feeding and pruning, watering and mowing, and thinking ahead while tending to the now.

"Your flowers, fruit and veg are also entering peak growth season – and they’ll be hungry," Chris says. With that in mind, here are five top tasks every gardener should be doing right now for a beautiful garden. 

1. Watering

Warm, dry weather might tempt you to water more often than needed, but Chris warns that this can do more harm than good.

"It can be seriously tempting to overcompensate for the hot weather and end up overwatering," he says. "The roots of plants that have been overwatered can suffocate, leading to nasty afflictions like root rot, yellowing leaves and fungal diseases."

Chris’s advice? Focus on watering early in the morning or late evening, and always aim at the base of your plants. 

2. Weed, mulch and feed 

"Weeds love warm weather,” Chris notes, "so you might find your precious plants are struggling to thrive amid those plant-based pests."

His method is simple: pull weeds when they’re young and manageable, then add a mulch layer using bark chips, compost, or leaf mould to block future weed growth and feed the soil.

Once you’ve cleared the bed, it’s the perfect time to feed – especially flowering plants and fruiting vegetables – using the right fertiliser to suit their needs.

3. Pruning

"A little pruning can go a long way to shaping the profile of your spring flowers, letting your new seasonal florals shine," says Chris.

Deadheading spent blooms not only tidies up your plants but also encourages them to keep producing flowers into summer.

Chris advises: "Pinch or snip just below the dead bloom, above a healthy leaf or bud, for best results." For a clean and effective cut, use sharp secateurs and cut at an angle. 

4. Mowing

Lawn care is especially important in June, when the weather stabilises and the grass enters a fast-growing phase. "Weekly lawn-mowing is back," says Chris, who points out that you may even need to mow twice a week if conditions are right.

Lower your mower cutting height slightly, but be sure never to remove more than a third of the grass blade at once to avoid stressing your lawn.

Timing is also key; Chris says: "Never mow in the early morning, at midday or after dusk. Late morning or mid–late afternoon is best – you’ll avoid the worst heat of the day and reduce the risk of fungal problems."

5. Planting

"Tasty late-summer plants like salad leaves, beetroot and green beans need a little extra time to grow, so now could be the perfect time to plant away," says Chris. "Always try and stay at least a season ahead to get the perfect garden year-round."