• Days are warming up fast and the rain is unpredictable, so spread a thick layer of mulch in all beds to retain moisture, keep soil temperature down and save water.
• Summer annuals should be planted by now to ensure a good show throughout the summer months.  Nip out dead flowers and feed regularly with a suitable fertiliser.
• Lawns need a lot of attention this time of the year.  Cut the lawn regularly (once a week) at the highest setting for a fine, lush look.  Fertilise with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser and water well afterwards.
• Adjust watering for plants in containers and hanging baskets, as they will need to be watered more regularly during the hot season.
• Prune deciduous spring flowering shrubs, eg. Forsythia, Deutzia and Spiraea when they have finished flowering.
• The vegetable garden should be yielding a lot by now.  Pick regularly to promote further production.  Do regular but small plantings of fast growers like radish, lettuce, Swiss chard, sweet corn, beans, squash and courgette.  Carrots, beetroot, potatoes and sweet potatoes can also be planted now.
• Cut all dead flowers off rose bushes after the first flowering session.  Treat with a fungicide where necessary.  Feed with a generous helping of 8:1:5 fertiliser and water regularly and thoroughly (twice a week if no rain). 
• Consider investing in a rainwater tank to collect water which would otherwise go to waste from your roof area and gutters.  It will save precious water and come in handy during the drier months. 

Have fun in the garden this month!