• Check plants regularly to see if they need watering. If they do, give them a thorough soaking.
• Apply shade paint to greenhouse windows or fix blinds to provide shade for the summer.
• Open greenhouse vents on warm days.
• Control slugs and snails by putting down beer traps, using copper tape around pots or spreading environmentally-friendly pellets.
• Clear weed out of ponds and leave it lying at the side of the pond for a day before disposing of it, to allow any wildlife living in it to escape.
• Feed wild birds daily with suitable bird food. They have young that need a lot of feeding.
• Keep secateurs and hoe blades sharp, so they cut well. Always have a tool sharpener handy.
• Put in supports for tall perennials like phlox, delphiniums and asters.
• Feed the lawn with a high-nitrogen fertilizer to encourage strong, healthy growth.
• Sow lawn seed to repair bare patches and water regularly until the new grass is established.
• Dig up dandelions and other lawn weeds by hand or apply a selective lawn weedkiller to tackle heavy infestations.
• Mow the lawn regularly (at least once a week), lowering the mower blades to their summer level.
• Give your garden an instant facelift by using edging shears to trim the lawn neatly at the edges of borders.
• Control plant pests before they get out of hand and become a problem.
• Keep on top of weeds as they appear, and deal with them quickly - either by hoeing or spraying with a suitable weedkiller.
• Mulch borders with bark to help retain essential soil moisture and keep down weeds.

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