The garden is a living thing, and at this time of year it seems to change almost daily. One moment the soil is cool and damp, the next it's warming in the sun, and every plant responds at its own pace. A little regular attention now — half an hour here, an hour there — will pay dividends right through to autumn. Here are the most useful jobs to tackle this month.

Sow hardy annuals for a summer of colour

Hardy annuals are the generous heart of a cottage garden. They germinate in cool conditions, grow quickly, and flower their socks off for months. If you sowed some earlier under cover, now is the time to harden them off and plant them out. If you didn't, don't worry — many can be sown direct where they are to flower.

• Prepare the ground: fork over the soil, remove stones and weeds, and rake to a fine tilth. A tilth is simply a crumbly surface that seeds can nestle into.
• Choose your favourites: cornflower, calendula, nigella, godetia, clarkia, and annual poppies all do brilliantly from a direct sowing. Scatter seed thinly, then cover with a fine layer of soil or compost — roughly twice the depth of the seed.
• Water gently: use a rose on the watering can so you don't wash the seeds away. Keep the soil moist until seedlings appear, then thin them to 15–23cm apart, depending on the variety. This gives each plant room to bush out.

A succession sowing every three or four weeks will keep the colour coming well into September.

Prune and train roses for healthy growth

Roses respond beautifully to a bit of timely pruning. The main winter prune is done, but this month you can tidy up, remove any dieback, and encourage strong new growth. For repeat-flowering shrub roses and climbers, the aim is to keep an open, airy framework.

• Remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood: cut back to healthy, outward-facing buds. Make a clean cut just above a bud, sloping away from it.
• Thin out congested growth: this lets light and air into the centre of the plant, which helps prevent blackspot and mildew.
• Tie in climbers and ramblers: new shoots are flexible now. Bend them horizontally where you can — this encourages more flowers along the stem.
• Deadhead regularly: snap or snip off faded blooms just above a set of leaves. This directs energy into new flowers rather than seed production.

Feed roses with a balanced rose fertiliser after pruning, and water well if the weather is dry.

Keep borders tidy and weed-free

A tidy border is not just about looks — it's about giving your plants the best chance to thrive. Weeds compete for water, light, and nutrients, and they can harbour pests and diseases.

• Hoe little and often: on a dry, sunny day, run a hoe through the top centimetre of soil to sever weed seedlings. Let them wither on the surface.
• Mulch: a 5–7cm layer of well-rotted compost or bark chippings will suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and feed the soil as it breaks down. Keep it away from stems to avoid rot.
• Stake perennials: delphiniums, lupins, and peonies can flop after rain. Use twiggy sticks, bamboo canes, or link stakes early, before the plants get too tall.
• Divide overcrowded clumps: if your irises, hardy geraniums, or daylilies are looking congested, lift and split them now. Replant the healthy outer pieces and discard the woody centre.

Lawn care for a lush green sward

The lawn is the backdrop to your borders, and a little attention now sets it up for summer. Regular mowing is key, but don't cut it too short — scalping stresses the grass and invites moss and weeds.

• Mow weekly: raise the blade for the first few cuts, then gradually lower it as growth speeds up. Never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade at once.
• Edge and trim: crisp edges make the whole garden look cared for. Use long-handled edging shears or a half-moon iron.
• Feed: apply a spring or summer lawn fertiliser according to the instructions. If rain is forecast, let it do the watering in.
• Water wisely: lawns can survive a dry spell. If you want it green, water deeply once a week rather than little and often — this encourages deep roots.

Watch out for pests and diseases

Healthy plants resist problems better, so keep them well fed and watered. But do keep an eye out for the usual suspects.

• Aphids: clusters on soft new shoots. Squash them by hand, or encourage ladybirds and lacewings. A strong jet of water can dislodge them too.
• Slugs and snails: they love young, tender growth. Use barriers like copper tape or crushed eggshells, or go out with a torch after dark and pick them off.
• Blackspot on roses: remove affected leaves and bin them — don't compost. Improve air circulation by pruning.
• Vine weevil: notches on leaf edges are a clue. Check pots for white grubs and repot if needed.

Remember, a garden is an ecosystem. A few pests feed the birds, frogs, and hedgehogs that will, in turn, help keep things in balance.

Finally, don't forget to water new plantings and containers regularly. Water in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation, and direct the water at the roots rather than the leaves. And take a moment to sit back with a cup of tea — the garden will reward you for your efforts many times over.