1. Flowers

After a slow and cold spring, some recent good days have got things back to a more normal pattern.

Plant out bedding plants and plant up pots and other containers. Watch for slug and snail damage after planting out, and water shortage.

2. Fruit, vegetables and herbs

Continue to sow vegetables such as lettuce, radish, carrots, peas, French beans, cauliflower and parsley.

Sow seeds of winter cabbage and cauliflower. Pear and apple trees will need spraying against scab disease if they have been affected before.

3.Trees, shrubs and roses

Spray roses against rose blackspot disease if the weather is wet. If necessary to reduce their size, prune spring shrubs as soon as they have gone out of flower.

Check recently planted trees have not run short of water, until they have made new growth.

4. Lawn

Mow the grass regularly during this period of rapid growth. It is essential to keep ahead of growth to have a good-quality dense growth.

If too much growth is allowed before mowing, the lawn will take on a skinned look when the grass is eventually cut.

5. Greenhouse and house plants

Plant out tomatoes, cucumbers, chilli peppers, melons and aubergines in the greenhouse soil.

Pot up some bedding plants such as busy lizzies, begonias and petunias for greenhouse display. Water all indoor plants regularly and feed every two weeks or so.

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