Seeds to plant now:

The UKGardening web site has been running since 1998. The idea behind the site has always been to provide what we think will be interesting and useful information for the novice gardener.

Jobs to do in the garden this week.

Feed tomato plants fornightly with a liquid fertiliser (this must be diluted in water to prevent burning the plants)
Tie tomato stems to canes or stakes to prevent the weight of the fruit breaking the plant.
Pond fish will eat more in the summer, feed them little and often, once or twice a day. If the food has not been eaten within 15 minutes, remove and dispose of the excess.
Plant up hanging baskets. More information available here.
Ensure that soil in hanging baskets and patio planters is kept moist. Remove fading and dead flower heads from plants, this will encourage new flowers. Feed hanging baskets and planters weekly with liquid fertiliser if a slow release fertiliser was not added when planting the basket.
We have probably now seen the last of the frosts. Summer bedding plants can safely be brought outside from the greenhouse or purchased from the Garden Centre.
Apple and pear trees will shed some fruit, this is known as the 'June drop'. This is quite natural, it's the trees way of restricting the amount of fruit that develop.
Move houseplants outside for some summer sunshine.
Plant tender perennials including pentstemons and salvias.
Pick gooseberries.
Continually nip out side shoots from upright (cordon) tomato plants. These reduce the amount of food available to fruit baring branches. Nip out the growing tip after the plant has produced 4-5 fruiting trusses.
Buy plants in strips or trays that are compact and sturdy, the compost that they are growing in should be moist. Try to buy plants in bud, with few open blooms.
Stake and tie perennials to prevent them being broken by wind and rain. Remove fading delphinium flowers to encourage a second flowering.
Paint shading on greenhouse to lessen the scorching effect of the sun and to keep temperatures lower.
Check the ties on climbers, flower stems and standard roses - the tops of plants can get very heavy when in full bloom or when wet.
Spread compost over the borders, this adds valuable nutrients to the soil and acts as a mulch, to retain moisture and reduce weed growth. Ensure that the soil is moist before adding mulch.
Remove spring bedding plants and lift and store spring flowering bulbs (with the exception of snowdrops).
Take soft wood cuttings from thyme. Thyme cuttings take easily, so they can be stuck in the soil or in pots. Remember that thyme likes full sun and hates to be grown in the shade.
The adult vine weevil, the number one garden pest, will be emerging from the soil as the temperatures rise.
Protect plants from slugs and snails with slug pellets, course grit or traps. Alternatively try to encourage birds, hedgehogs and frogs to your garden - all prey on slugs and snails.
Regularly water trees and shrubs that were planted last autumn and winter. Their roots won't have had a chance to fully develop yet.
Cut grass weekly, long grass takes more nutrients out of the soil. It is also harder to cut and may leave yellow patches in the lawn.
Apply a weed and feed to established lawns. Water in with a hose after a few days if it hasn't rained.
Lift, divide and replant chives.
Remove the dead heads of spring flowering bulbs. This will encourage the plant to store energy in the bulb rather than wasting it on seed production.

Seeds to plant now:

Indoors or in a heated greenhouse

Outside

Outside under cover

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Jobs to do in the garden this week.

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