By June, gardens across Hull, Beverley and the East Riding are showing their full potential. Borders have filled out, lawns are thick with growth, and the longer evenings stretch out the working day. But this is no time to step back entirely. While spring’s urgency has passed, June demands a quieter kind of vigilance—deadheading, feeding, watering and watching.
In East Yorkshire, the mixed conditions of early summer—sun one day, a sea fret or sudden thunderstorm the next—mean consistency is key. In Beverley’s sheltered back gardens, repeat-flowering roses are likely already in bloom. To keep them going well into August, regular deadheading is essential. Always cut back just above a healthy set of leaves, and check for signs of blackspot or mildew, especially after damp spells. Feeding now with a high-potash fertiliser helps maintain strong flowering.
Wisteria, if left unchecked, will put its energy into leafy sprawl rather than next year’s flowers. As soon as its bloom has faded, trim long side-shoots back to around 20cm. In Hull and surrounding areas, where wall-trained specimens are popular, it’s worth using soft ties to secure new shoots against wind. Wind is also a factor for tall perennials. In more exposed Wolds villages, delphiniums and lupins will benefit from staking now before they flop under their own weight or snap in summer gusts.
June is a good month for direct sowing, especially in allotments and vegetable patches. The soil is warm and quick to respond. Fast growers such as lettuce, beetroot and radish can be sown successively every couple of weeks to provide a reliable crop through to autumn. In urban Hull plots where space is tighter, salad varieties thrive in troughs and deep containers. Courgettes and runner beans, now free of frost risk, can go out into final positions, though slug damage remains a risk. Early morning checks are worthwhile—look under pots, stones and even slabs. For those avoiding pellets, barriers of crushed eggshells or wool waste can help.
Lawns benefit from regular mowing now, once or twice a week depending on growth. On dry days, it’s better to raise the blade slightly than to scalp the grass. A sharp edge along a border makes a big visual difference. In Beverley’s larger gardens, this might be an hour’s job; in smaller Hull terraces, it’s 10 minutes with a pair of edging shears. If the hot weather comes, watering will become part of the daily routine. Water early or late, and prioritise containers, hanging baskets and anything newly planted. Many gardeners across East Yorkshire are switching to water butts and reusing grey water, as summer dry spells become increasingly frequent.
There’s no shortage of colour to enjoy this month. Salvias, geraniums, foxgloves and peonies are all at their peak. Local nurseries report strong demand this year for ornamental grasses and pollinator-friendly perennials. In Bridlington and Hornsea gardens, where soil tends to be lighter and conditions more coastal, lavenders and eryngiums are performing well and require little intervention.
Local gardens are also worth visiting for inspiration. Burnby Hall Gardens near Pocklington offers a spectacular display of water lilies in June, unique in the UK. For those willing to travel, RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate is a lesson in structure and succession planting—two principles worth observing while your own garden takes shape. Closer to home, community gardens in Beverley and Cottingham are active this month, with events and open days offering a chance to share tips and surplus plants.
Ultimately, June is the gardener’s chance to take control before the garden controls you. Every hour spent now deadheading, weeding, watering and tidying pays dividends in July and August. It’s a month of steady attention rather than sweeping transformation. And in a part of the country where seasons often turn suddenly, staying one step ahead can make all the difference.
If there’s a rhythm to gardening in East Yorkshire, June is where it hits its stride—quietly, reliably, and full of promise.