Gardening in June in Ireland | What To Do

What to Sow in June

Sow French beans, runner beans and beetroot for succession. Last chance to sow courgettes and squash directly outdoors. Sow quick-maturing salads including lettuce, rocket, radish and spring onions for summer harvesting. Sow Florence fennel, chicory and radicchio for autumn. Biennials for next year's flowers can be sown now: wallflowers, sweet williams, foxgloves and Canterbury bells. Sow autumn and winter brassicas: sprouting broccoli, kale, winter cabbage and spring cabbage for transplanting later. Quick-growing flowers like French marigolds and zinnias can still be sown.

What to Plant in June

Plant out any remaining tender vegetables and bedding plants. Continue planting up containers, window boxes and hanging baskets for summer colour. Plant autumn-flowering bulbs like colchicum and nerines. Transplant leek seedlings to their final positions, dropping them into dibbed holes. Plant out winter brassica seedlings into their growing positions with firm planting and netting against butterflies and pigeons. Dahlia plants should now be in their final positions with supports in place.

What to Harvest in June

June brings the first substantial harvests. New potatoes, broad beans, peas, lettuce, radishes, spring onions and spinach are all cropping well. Strawberries are at their peak — pick every day for the best flavour. Gooseberries are ready for picking. Early courgettes begin producing. Herbs are at their most flavourful and abundant. Cut-and-come-again salad leaves provide a continuous supply. The first elderflowers appear for cordial making. Asparagus cutting should stop by 21st June to allow the crowns to build strength for next year.

Lawn Care in June

Mow twice a week during June's rapid growth. Raise the cutting height slightly during dry spells to help the grass retain moisture. Apply a summer lawn feed if not done in May. Water newly established lawns during dry weather. Treat isolated weeds with a spot weedkiller. June is a good time to assess your lawn and plan any autumn renovation work. Trim edges weekly for a manicured appearance.

General Garden Tasks for June

Pinch out side shoots on cordon tomatoes weekly. Feed tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and courgettes with high-potash fertiliser as fruits begin to form. Tie in sweet peas, clematis and climbing roses regularly. Deadhead roses, bedding plants and perennials to prolong flowering. Watch for greenfly, blackfly, caterpillars and red spider mite. Water containers daily in warm weather — twice daily for hanging baskets. Thin fruit on apple and pear trees after the natural June drop. Support heavy-cropping fruit branches. Prune spring-flowering shrubs after flowering including forsythia, weigela and deutzia.

Ireland-Specific Tips for June

June is often one of the best months in Irish gardens, with long days (up to 17 hours of daylight), warm temperatures averaging 14-18°C, and generally drier weather than spring. The west of Ireland can still receive significant rainfall, while the east coast and Midlands tend to be sunnier. June is peak rose season in Ireland, and gardens nationwide are at their most colourful. Watch for late blight on potatoes and tomatoes as warm, humid conditions develop — spray preventatively with a copper-based fungicide. The Irish countryside is alive with wildflowers, nesting birds and buzzing pollinators.

Frequently Asked Questions

In June, most established garden plants in Ireland need watering only during prolonged dry spells, as the soil usually retains adequate moisture from rainfall. Container plants, hanging baskets and newly planted specimens need more frequent watering — daily in warm weather, twice daily for hanging baskets in full sun. Water deeply and less frequently rather than little and often, as this encourages deep root growth. Water in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation. Focus water at the base of plants rather than over the foliage, which can encourage fungal disease.

Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) is a significant problem for Irish potato and tomato growers, thriving in warm, humid conditions that are common from June onwards. Monitor plants closely for the first signs: dark brown blotches on leaves, white fuzzy growth on the undersides, and a musty smell. Spray preventatively with a copper-based fungicide (Bordeaux mixture) every 10-14 days from June, especially during warm, wet weather. Choose blight-resistant varieties like Sarpo Mira and Setanta. Remove and destroy any infected foliage immediately to slow the spread.

Prune spring-flowering shrubs immediately after they finish flowering in late May or June. This gives the plant the rest of the growing season to produce new shoots that will carry next year's flowers. Shrubs to prune in June include forsythia, weigela, deutzia, philadelphus, kerria and spiraea. Remove about one-third of the oldest stems at ground level and shorten remaining shoots that have flowered. Do not prune these shrubs in winter or early spring, as you will remove the flower buds and sacrifice the spring display.

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What To Do In Your Irish Garden In June