THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Gardening Jobs in June
What are the gardening jobs in June? Here are a few of the things we are looking at around the garden… (and if that’s not enough, then for a simple, easy to digest guide, see Alan’s book below…)
Cut back any perennials that are going over (poppies for example) and thin the stems of plants like euphorbia (please wear gloves when you do this, as when the stems break they exude a milky sap that can irritate your skin.)
Mow and edge the lawn every week (but think about some labour saving alternatives…)
Stake anything you have forgotten to stake.
Tie in your sweetpeas – and get ready for their brilliant display!
Plant out tender or ‘exotic’ plants.
Pick and eat your strawberries and raspberries. Is there any better way to watch Wimbledon?
Have you clipped your box yet?
Prune spring flowering shrubs that have now gone over. This is an important one!
Find out if your garden is bee friendly by taking the buzz test.
Be water-wise – you do not need to water your lawn (though the vegetable garden would appreciate some…)
Weed the borders, and while you’re in there, take a look around you. What is working, what is not? Are there any gaps that need filling or unhappy plants that could be moved? Get to know your flowers!
Last (but not least) enjoy your garden. Sit down, open a bottle of wine and get the barbeque on. That’s what it’s all about!
For more information about what to do in the garden now, try these books – they’ll get you inspired…
The Complete How To Be A Gardener
The Gardener’s Pocket Bible: Every gardening rule of thumb at your fingertips (Pocket Bibles)
… and for something a little more fun, we offer you this lovely book about a guy who began gardening in London during the day, while spending his evenings writing comedy.
Best moment?
Discovering why it is hard to find a good gardener, because they all die out over winter when there is no work to sustain them! It’s a lovely read, enjoy it!
Michael Gibson, New York Topiary Art!
In the New York Times earlier this year was a lovely interview with Michael Gibson, who makes topiary and gardens in New York. The article is here but you may not have access… however, search the internet, find it and have a read. It is great! His philosophy of pruning is especially worth it… Sacred geometry in topiary? Yes please! What a phrase! I think (and speak) of balance, of major and minor, of leaf volume… but sacred geometry might well make it into my topiary teaching lexicon! And the idea of directional trimming? I realise I do this, but …
Topiary Library
I do a lot of teaching topiary. I had the opportunity from my mentor, Charlotte Molesworth, to work on her garden and experiment and test techniques and generally try making shapes without the worry of failure, or being fired, or being sued and run out of business for getting it wrong. This opportunity was essential (along with Charlotte’s insistance that pruning standards had to be high!) in becoming better at topiary. When I look around the world at our cultural vitamins, what we see in the media day in and day out, I see the stupidest and grossest of people …
Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue
With Chris Poole of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society we visited Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue in Rutland. Do you know it? Amazing place! Chris and I were teaching a topiary workshop in order to give local people the skills and technique, and tenacity! to help with the pruning of the avenue and elevate it to something even more special than it already is. Read more about the workshops here. We hope to run a further workshop in September 2026, as well as teach an advanced course too. Check the teaching page through the year as it will be updated …