The seeds to sow in your garden now to have it blooming all through summer
WHEN the Scottish weather allows it, June is a great month to spend as much time as possible outdoors.
Gardens will be coming to life with bursts of growth and flowering
throughout the month.
2
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And with everything growing so quickly, it's important to keep on
top of the essential gardening jobs.
Gardening expert Nigel Lawton has shared his handy gardening guide for June - including what seeds to sow right now to make your garden a riot of colour as the summer progresses.
While your plants are growing with the light and warmth of summer, weeds may also sprout in the heat.
Dobbies' Plant Buyer Nigel explains that hoeing weeds regularly during the dry weather is the best way to keep on top of them.
He adds: 'Using weed killer such as Resolva ready-to-use 24 hour weedkiller in some areas is an effective way to combat this, and
applying a thick layer of mulch over the soil surface helps prevent more weeds growing.
'Protecting your plants from hot and dry weather is important at this time of year. Watering plants regularly when the weather is dry and warm, and mulching plants with organic matter to lock in moisture and improve soil quality over time, is a great way to protect plants.
'Don't forget to water pots and containers too, and every few weeks add a liquid feed, such as Wesland Boost all purpose liquid plant feed, to containers and hanging baskets, to help produce up to four times more flowers.
'Protect herbaceous plants, such as Delphinium and Hosta, from slug damage using pest control repellents, and protect strawberry plants from hungry birds."
Although June is a great time to sow seeds and plant young plants due to the warmer soil and high temperatures, Nigel explains that the heat may also dry the soil out.
He emphasises the importance of watering your plants as often as needed during long, hot spells.
Nigel's top picks for the best flower seeds to sow in June include; pansies, violas, primroses, calendula, godetia, lupins, delphiniums, and the last chance to sow coreopsisa.
For fruit and veg, June is a good time to grow salad crops. Nigel's selects include beetroot, lettuce, pak choi and radish.
Peas, sweetcorn, cucumbers, squash, marrows, courgettes, turnips, and broccoli are all good to plant while it's the last chance to grow pumpkins.
Many flowers in your garden will be full of growth and colour in June but it is still the perfect time to fill other areas that you can admire for the rest of the summer.
Dobbies' plant of the month is a rose, as the rose season is just beginning. June is a great time to pick new varieties to add to planters and borders for summer displays.
Nigel's top picks for bedding and border flowers also include dahlia, cosmos and nicotiana for their fast growing during the high summer.
He adds: "Fuchsias are ideal to plant this month as they bloom throughout summer to the early frosts, and for a pop of colour begonias, marigolds, and nasturtiums are also a good choice.
"To add volume to borders, plant shrubs like lavender, rhododendron or even herbs.
"In the pots and containers bringing colour to your walls and doorways, some good choices would be begonias, petunias, and dianthus. For more permanent containers, consider planting Japanese acers, hydrangeas, or cordyline for an eye-catching look.
"Prune spring flowering shrubs when flowers have faded and early season herbaceous plants, such as geranium and Oriental poppies, can be cut back after flowering to encourage re-growth of new foliage.
When it comes to lawn care, Nigel recommends regular mowing, at least once a week and says this is best if the weather is dry and not too hot to get the perfectly manicured lawn.
He says: "Reduce the cutting height of your mower now that the
grass is growing quicker. During heatwaves, it's best not to mow your lawn as it will already be struggling in the hot, dry weather.
"If you have to mow your lawn in hot weather, raise the height of your mower blades and water your grass after mowing."
It is also important to consider the wildlife in these warmer months. Nigel explains that bird baths make a nice feature in any garden and also create a safe habitat for birds as a source of water and place to cool off in summer heat.
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Telegraph
13 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The best fire pits of 2025 for summer nights in the garden, tried and tested
There's no better way to cap off a fine summer's day than cosying up with family and friends around a fire pit. From the earthy aroma of the fire to the crackling sound of burning wood and the drift of the smoke, the best fire pits engage all the senses and provide a relaxing focal point for evenings in the garden. Although they have been around for a while, their popularity is now rocketing along with that of solar garden lights and garden chairs as we spend more time outdoors, notes Martyn Wilson, an award-winning garden design expert. 'Perhaps it is something deep within us and the primeval need to create fire,' he says. 'It can be relaxing staring into the flames and just zoning out for a short while. Fire pits can extend the use of the garden later into the evening and offer a more ambient feel than patio heaters. They are also great for socialising – and you can cook marshmallows with the children.' Many people take small fire pits with them when they go camping, especially ones designed not to scorch the ground. I've tested this year's best designs in my own garden and you can read my reviews below, followed by some advice on how to use and care for fire pits. But if you're in a hurry, here's a quick look at our top five: The best fire pits: At a glance How to choose the best fire pit The first thing to consider when buying a fire pit is size. Larger fire pits can usually deliver heat to a wider area, which is ideal for larger groups, whereas smaller models require less fuel. Portable models should be lightweight and easy to disassemble, so they can be taken with you on your travels. If a firepit is heavy or can't be taken apart quickly, it's probably supposed to stay in pride of place at home. Also consider which extra features you might like. Some fire pits come with a grill accessory for barbecuing, and certain models reduce smoke via a secondary combustion design. How we test fire pits I judged the fire pits from the moment they arrived on my doorstep. How heavy were the boxes? How easy were they to unpack and assemble? Were the fire pits stylish? Did they have extra capabilities like grilling? I tested a variety of sizes and styles. Once I lit them, I noted how much heat and smoke they gave off and how quickly they cooled down. Other factors included how much wood they needed, how safe they were, how energy efficient and how easy they were to clean: you should never leave ashes in the bottom of a fire pit to get wet. If you want to spend more time enjoying your garden, you might also be interested in our guides to the best rattan furniture and inflatable hot tubs. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All reviews are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. The best fire pits of 2025 1. Best Buy Fire Pit: Recycled Kadai Score: 9/10 We like: Family-made from recycled oil drums in India A kadai is a traditional Indian cooking vessel designed for curries, with curved sides and a deep, flat base. The company Kadai has taken inspiration from the silhouette and transformed it into an authentic fire bowl. This one is made from recycled oil drums by family workshops in India. The result is a rustic-looking fire pit made from metal plates welded together, with drop handles at the side. The handles don't get hot, so you can move the fire bowl without burning yourself. The kit also comes with Kadai beads, which makes it unique. They're tiny clay beads which lie at the bottom of the bowl to help with rainwater drainage and to stop any ash falling through to the ground. My only complaint is that the tiny drainage hole does frequently get clogged. The fire bowl comes with a removable grill so you can barbecue on top. I grilled some thick pork chops, which cooked through within half an hour. You also get some tongs and a wire brush to help with upkeep and fire-building. I'd recommend using kiln-dried logs with this excellent fire pit; otherwise you risk smoking out your companions. Key specifications 2. Best Value Fire Pit: BillyOh Astral 2-in-1 Fire Pit with BBQ Garden design firm BillyOh, possibly better known for their sheds and log cabins, have excelled with this 2-in-1 BBQ model, complete with laser cut moon and stars. It comes with a removable cooking grill, so you can easily cook over firewood or charcoal. There are drawbacks. The log capacity is not huge and there's no easy way to remove the ashes, except by waiting until they're cold and scooping them out. As a barbecue, there's no form of ventilation control, so you are basically cooking caveman-style over the embers. But the price is reasonable, the build quality is decent and you can bolt it together in 20 minutes. The perfect family fire pit on a bargain budget. Key specifications 3. Best Smokeless Firepit: Winnerwell Secondary Combustion Portable Grill Minimal smoke and convenient heating are top priorities for a firepit at home or on the campsite. This portable model from Winnerwell delivers on both. Its legs fold out, bringing the top up to camping chair height. You can also purchase some extension legs (£65.98, Amazon). All of the components feel robust and nicely finished. Speaking as someone who's not much good at lighting fires, this makes it easy work. The tall walls provide good protection against strong breezes, while the bottom vents let helpful airflow feed the fire. It burns brilliantly, providing plenty of warmth at a distance of several meters. I cooked a classic: Flump Minis, which toasted quickly over the flames. This model burns cleaner than most and produced relatively little smoke, even when I used scrap wood with a high moisture content (although performance was best when I burned seasoned firewood). This is all thanks to its secondary combustion. The effect, common to most 'smokeless' fire pits, is produced by a two-walled design which directs airflow to both the bottom and the top of the firepit. So, it burns your wood fuel inside the firepit and also combusts escaping smoke and ashes. It kicks in when the firepit gets hot, after around 10 to 20 minutes of heating. The extra flames are visible around the top edge of the firepit. Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed with this firepit. It's highly convenient, lights easily and looks great on the paving. As with other firepits, it's important to wear heat-resistant gloves during use. Save the toasting for your marshmallows (or Flumps). Key specifications 4. Best Fire Pit and BBQ: BioLite FirePit+ Score: 7/10 We like: The excellent hibachi grill function We don't like: The noise of the fan £187.93, Amazon The BioLite is a compact and portable fire-pit-and-cooking grill combination that can burn either firewood or charcoal. It arrived beautifully packaged and was simple to assemble – just two handles to screw in. The instructions on how to get it working are detailed, but very user friendly. It's small, so you wouldn't want many more than two or three people sitting around it. It would be ideal for small spaces like an urban back yard or a balcony. It's not as pretty as some others, but it has a unique selling point: a rechargeable battery that powers 51 air jets inside the chamber. These jets create a more uniform temperature and improve combustion. That means more reliable heat, but also less smoke – a common issue with fire pits – so your neighbours might be pleased if you choose this one. The fan is fairly noisy, so this model is better for a lively urban environment, rather than quiet spots. It really comes into its own if you fill the unit with charcoal instead of wood and use it as a hibachi-style grill. It cooks well and it was fun to bring grub to the fire pit experience. By combining the functions of fire pit and BBQ, the BioLite cuts down on expense and space. Those who love to have technology connected with everything in life will enjoy controlling it remotely from their phones. However, others might find that the design – a bit like a robotic dog – and the technology run against the spirit of the fire pit, which is communing with nature. Key specifications 5. Best Luxury Fire Pit: English Country Fireball (800mm) This is a very pricey fire pit and I was curious to see if it had the x-factor to justify the cost. The makers have hand-crafted beautiful countryside scenes into into a 6mm-walled steel ball, forming silhouettes of foxes, stags and trees that seem to move against the flames. The way the smoke swirled around the art evoked a late summer/early autumn woodland evening, making an enchanting focal point for the garden. In short, it is both of use and an ornament. The first downside you'll discover is that it's very heavy – my lower back was crying out the moment I began to lift it. It also needs a lot of wood, so the expense continues after you've forked out for the pit itself. However, the sculpture is so stunning that you're getting value out of this one even when it's not lit and it would be the perfect centrepiece to a large garden. You can buy an LED lighting kit so that it glows at night. The company also offers comfortable matching stools so you can look the part as you while away the evenings and dozens of other Fireball designs, including bespoke creations. (One wag commissioned a Death Star.) Key specifications Fire pit FAQs Are fire pits legal in the UK? Yes, fire pits are legal in the UK. 'But you do need to be respectful of your neighbours and be sure that you are not causing a nuisance with smoke,' says garden designer Martyn Wilson. He also recommends checking local legislation to see if you are in a smoke free zone. What is the best fuel to use in a fire pit? 'Try to use woods with a low moisture content, such as kiln-dried woods or well seasoned hardwoods,' says Wilson. Bio-ethanols formed from plant-based materials such as fermented sugar and plant based starches are also used for some more contemporary fire pits. 'They will tend to burn with less smoke,' Wilson says. Other units use gas or coal. How should I look after my fire pit? The good news is that most fire pits can be left outside. 'If you have a fire bowl, try leaving on its side or upside down in the winter to prevent rainwater building up inside,' says Wilson. He also notes that a layer of sand in the bottom of a fire pit can help radiate heat and prevent burn of the metal. However, he suggests that we avoid leaving ash or embers in the bottom. Once fully cooled, the ashes should be removed and disposed of safely. 'Wood ash can be good for the garden!' he said. With that said, some fire pit models will benefit from indoor storage, especially if their materials are prone to rusting. What safety precautions are needed when using a fire pit? Never leave a lit fire pit unattended. Wilson suggests keeping a bucket of sand nearby, in case you need to extinguish the fire in a hurry. 'In light of the recent record temperatures, it is really important to be mindful of the weather and make sure there isn't any dry grass or foliage nearby that could ignite from embers,' he says, 'particularly so if it is windy and there hasn't been any rain.' It is also important to consider the space around the fire pit and allow plenty of room to move around. Keep children and pets away, and always read and follow safety instructions. Are gas fire pits better than wood-burning ones? Gas fire pits have some advantages over wood-burning fire pits; they tend to be easy to use, with an in-built ignition that should light the propane/butane fuel from your connected gas canister (which will be sold separately) at the flick of a switch. Gas produces a 'clean burn' with little smoke or airborne ash, so you and your guests can enjoy the fire without worrying about singed clothing, eye irritation or smoky smells. With that said, for some users, there's no replacing the rustic experience of using real wood on a wood-burning fire pit. If you like the idea of building your own fire and you enjoy a smoky atmosphere, a wood-burning model is the way to go. How do 'smokeless' fire pits work? Smokeless fire pits burn a hard fuel such as wood pellets while producing low volumes of smoke relative to traditional wood-burning models. This type of fire pit reduces smoke by burning at two levels: primary combustion of the hard fuel at the bottom, and secondary combustion of remaining smoke and ashes (material which is not properly burned at the first pass) at the top. The two levels of combustion are facilitated by airflow through the fire pit. Some smoke is still produced, but much of the visible smoke and ash from primary combustion is incinerated. Using a low-smoke wood fuel or well seasoned firewood will provide the lowest attainable levels of smoke. Gas-fuelled fire pits also produce little smoke relative to a traditional wood-fuelled fire pit, so they can be considered as an alternative 'smokeless' option. How long will a cast iron or steel fire pit last? The lifespan of a cast iron or steel fire pit can vary depending on the thickness and quality of the material, as well as on your usage habits, storage and maintenance. Retailers' estimates on the longevity of high-quality models range from around seven years to 25 years and longer. Steel and cast iron are both susceptible to oxidation, and the level of rusting often greatly influences the lifespan of a fire pit. The material will be likelier to rust if it is left in wet conditions or filled with moisture, or if the surface is scratched, dented or otherwise damaged. Try to find out the warranty terms via the manufacturer or retailer. This will guarantee a minimum lifespan, although many cast iron and steel fire pits can comfortably outlast the warranty period given proper care. Should I cover my fire pit when I'm not using it? Water and detritus can easily accumulate inside and on top of an uncovered fire pit, leading to rusting and uncleanliness. So, most models will benefit from being covered while not in use. To ensure effective coverage, choose a suitably sized waterproof cover that can be secured tightly over the fire pit. Many fire pit manufacturers offer purpose-made covers as an additional purchase, while generic covers are available via retailers such as Amazon. Allow your fire pit to cool down completely before you handle or cover it.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Inside the Edinburgh firm on a mission to end fuel poverty
Urban Tide is a data company focused on unlocking information to deliver targeted solutions to businesses looking to improve sustainability outcomes. The founders met while delivering an ambitious 'Future Cities' programme that made them realise combining datasets was the future of targeted decision-making, but that many barriers stood in the way. Now the 15-strong company is a key partner in a five-year research project looking to link health data with household data to improve children's health. Specifically, it's looking at preventing the respiratory problems caused by damp and mould in poorly insulated or poorly ventilated homes. It's led by Dr Olivia Swann who is both a paediatrician and a researcher at the University of Edinburgh. 'The work that Livvy [Dr Swann] is doing is pretty fascinating,' Tricker said. 'The UK has the leakiest homes in Europe. It's a combination of having a lot of old stock, the way we build them is not that efficient and we're not really considering the thermal efficiency of buildings. 'The retrofit programme at scale needs to really be ramped up because if we reduce energy, we reduce our bills and make our homes more comfortable. But – and here comes the but –there's a risk if you clad a home and make it nice and insulated, it's not well ventilated. If you don't consider the ventilation systems, you can increase the risk of mould build-up, which can then lead to the risk of black mould, which, if you've children in the house, can lead to an increase in asthma and a whole host of health implications for later life.' Thanks to Urban Tide's unique access to system data from electricity smart meters, it can provide the research team with information that uses AI and household-level information to predict the risk of fuel poverty. Added to this is the Scotland-wide health data, held securely and strictly anonymised, which Swann's team can overlay with the data provided by Tricker's team, as well as other advanced data sets. This research, inspired by the children coming into Dr Swann's clinic with respiratory infections, is only possible now that all the pieces of the data jigsaw are available. Currently, it would not be possible even over the border in England, and interest from partners has exceeded all Swann's expectations. 'I've been really overwhelmed not just with the amount of interest but also just how incredibly collaborative and how much goodwill there is from industry, from policymakers and from third sector,' Swann said. 'We arranged a project launch event and I thought it would be 20 people and some sandwiches. Instead, we had 130 people and 50 different organisations. Most of those people I had met on Zoom or Teams, and then they had come in person because they felt so strongly about this issue. I think that is a real testament to how important people think this issue is and the will for it to be better.' It's the Goldilocks analogy of 'just right' as it applies to the population of Scotland and the quality of the data, alongside the expertise of companies and researchers and the involvement of Scottish government in potentially turning this research into policy that inspires Tricker. 'We're always looking at how we can use data to help solve a number of these large societal challenges,' he said. "So we wanted to build a platform that could bring in real-time data,' he said. 'We work across the transport sector as well, because they collect lots of real-time information. By combining that with other static data sets, you can start to see patterns. 'In the transport sector, for example, we're working with Cycling Scotland and other partners across local authorities and regional transport partners to try and help put in infrastructure where it's needed.' With this research project involving so many datasets from different partners, including, for the first time, Scottish government data on every intervention made so far to make houses warmer, the ethics of data use have been a priority. 'This data could not be harder to bring together,' Swann said. 'All of the data goes into the National Safe Haven, which is incredibly well protected. The data is then linked there, and it's anonymised before we begin to access it. So we never know who anybody is. 'We have a fantastic patient and public engagement group too and a lot of the discussions we've had with them have been about the acceptability of using these different kinds of data, bringing them together and all of the security measures around them.' Tricker adds that the anonymity of the data Urban Tide is using is absolutely key. It is not interested in personal details but looking for patterns in usage so the right interventions can be made. It will shortly be launching which will open up the data it has collected on transport across Scotland, including cycling networks, so it can be used to make local and national decisions. 'I'm quite excited about launching to really showcase some of our AI technologies and obviously help to promote more open data generally as well,' he said. Urban Tide is already working internationally from its Edinburgh base. It is leading an open data training programme for Ireland's public sector to comply with a European directive to make public data more accessible, and the team is also working on smart city plans in the middle-east and Australia. After 11 years of organic growth, bootstrapping and pivoting as the technology and AI capabilities develop, it is now looking to raise some investment. Assisting with this is Mountside Ventures, which it sees as a 'badge of honour' as it selects a only handful of companies to work with each year. 'The next three years are about really consolidating the business and the technology that we've built across UK and Europe and the next round after that would be to expand into America. We're on the journey of the 'three I's, so there's the identification piece, then there's the intervention and then how do you measure impact? We are also cross-sector. It's one of the challenges of our business, having to work in the energy sector, the transport sector, and then combining data from across the different sources. 'But that's also the opportunity because as more data are being opened up and used, the convergence of all these different types of data really unlocks new opportunities.'
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
It's high time Britain had another conversation about cannabis
The findings of the London Drugs Commission are welcome after a decade or more of static drug policy in the UK (Worried about weed: should London follow New York and decriminalise cannabis?, 31 May). While the report focuses on London, the suggestions resonate across the UK and beyond. Cannabis was reclassified from class B to class C in 2004, reducing the penalties for possession, after the home secretary (David Blunkett) took the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Unfortunately, the Labour government asked the council to reconsider its advice based on protests about the risks of cannabis to health. The council, headed by Sir Michael Rawlins, confirmed its advice that the drug should stay in class C. The government disagreed this time and returned it to class B. Police Scotland some years ago announced that it would concentrate on more serious issues and reduce attention on simple possession-of-cannabis offences. Returning the drug to a class with a lower sentencing tariff clearly makes sense. The requirements for a functioning education and health service regarding drug use and addiction are clearly the next target and at present it is hard to identify anything but inadequate provision in primary or specialist services. Scotland is innovating in the establishment of a safer injecting room and a heroin assisted-treatment programme in Glasgow, but across the addiction field progress is slow. The commission didn't recommend legislation but without a national approach progress in addiction policy is fragmented and RobertsonProfessor of addiction medicine, University of Edinburgh Your article about decriminalising cannabis in London doesn't take into account the impact on people who don't want the smell of weed all around them. I've recently been on a short break to New York, which was marred by the inescapable smell of weed everywhere. It was in the streets, the shop doorways and even permeated the shops and restaurants as people smoked their joints outside. It's bad enough that we have to breathe in the sickly smell of vapes on the street without having to endure the pungent odour of pot everywhere. This is more than an issue about not prosecuting people for drug use, it's a quality-of-life issue for everyone. If it's decriminalised in London, the rest of the country is sure to follow Ludlow MooneyBacup, Lancashire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
