Monty Don shares the gardening ‘secret’ that should be done ‘daily’ in June to make roses bloom ‘for as long as possible’

ROSES occupy a prominent place in gardens across the country, but helping them thrive isn’t always easy.

But don’t worry, gardener extraordinaire Monty Don has shared a simple trick that will help them bloom for a long time – and it’s completely free too.

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Every month Monty lists the jobs This must be noted, and for June one of these works includes a simple help to make roses last longer.

So how do you do this?

“The secret to keeping any rose blooming for as long as possible is to remove it daily”, explained the professional.

Deadheading involves removing the finished flowers so that new growth can thrive.

This will also help the current flowers look more aesthetically pleasing by improving the shape of the plant.

Not only that, but removing spent flowers can help prevent certain diseases and pests.

That said, Monty encouraged gardeners to use pruning shears to cut the stem rather than just plucking the spent petals.

You must cut the stem down to the next leaf or the next button below it for best results.

The gardening professional explained that this “will trigger lateral sprouting which, in turn, will bring more flowers.”

While cutting roses is usually a June job, it’s something you can and should continue to do well into July, he added.

“It is very important to deadhead roses in July as the petals fade to encourage repeat flowering, but some roses will have already finished whatever they are doing this year,” he said.

Other gardening jobs for June

Early flowering shrubs

According to Monty, Brits should also prune flowering shrubs such as philadelphus, amelanchier, deutzia, weigela and rubus this month.

He said: “This will give the new growth plenty of time to mature before winter and so produce maximum flowers next spring.

“Mature shrubs should be pruned hard, cutting back most of the flowering stems to a healthy new shoot and taking the oldest growth back to the base so it can be completely renewed every three or four years.

“A very overgrown bush should also be renewed in this gradual manner.”

Once pruned, they will need to be weeded, watered and mulched to obtain semi-mature seedlings from healthy, straight, non-flowering pruned stems.

Wisteria

Monty Don wrote: “Wisteria produces its flowers on new growth, which in turn emerges from the spurs of the main shoots.

“When they finish flowering – and for most of us that’s around mid-June – it’s time to prune all of this year’s new growth back to a spur.

“Don’t leave more than six inches of growth. In the process, the entire plant can be tidied, trained and tied up so that there are no loose, creeping shoots.”

Monty recommended erring on the side of cutting too lightly, as this means that in the New Year, when all the foliage has died, it can be pruned again, reducing each side shoot to just two or three inches.

Gardening work in June

The Sun’s gardening editor Veronica Lorraine has shared the tasks you should tackle this month.

Mark leggy perennials

With all the dramatic weather we’re experiencing, it’s definitely time to stake out your leggy perennials (the ones that come back every year). Heavy rains and growth spurts can cause them to collapse and fail.

Choosing Slugs and Snails

Hopefully as we move into summer they will cause less damage as the plants grow. The best way is still to go out at night with a headlamp to find them.

Choose Elderflower Heads

You can use them to make your own cordial, or add to cakes, champagne or even fry them in batter.

Stay on top of the weeds

Now is the time for weeds to really grow in the garden, so control them with weeding – or just the traditional ‘on your knees with a fork’ approach. Try to avoid chemicals – remember that weeds are just plants in the wrong place.

Above the cut

You will need to mow the lawn weekly now – if you have time, remove the weeds in advance as once you mow you cut the leaves and they are harder to see.

Check your tomatoes

Your tomato plants will need attention – regularly water, feed and pinch off side shoots.

Chelsea Chop

There’s still time for the Chelsea Chop – plants like Rudbeckia, Asters, Penstemons, Sedums and other perennials can be cut back by a third to help them get a little thicker and extend the flowering period.

Arrange your tulips

If you can be bothered and have space, lift and arrange your tulip bulbs to ensure color next spring.

Deadheading your roses

Get them to the first set of healthy leaves – which will ensure more flowers for longer.

Enjoy your space

Take some time to sit and enjoy your garden or outdoor space – it’s great for your mental health. Even just a few minutes a day can make a big difference.