June Gardening To~Do List

JUNE GARDENING TO DO LIST:  June is National Pollinator Month!

In the Edible Garden

Prune tomato plants: Prune and pinch tomato plants to encourage growth and fruit production. 

Fall brassicas: The most popular brassicas are broccoli, cauliflower, kale and cabbage. All these crops can be planted a second time in midsummer for a fall harvest. Start your brassicas in nursery trays in late June so they’re ready to plant into your beds by mid-July. This timing will make sure that your second round is ready for harvest in September or October. Many varieties are bred specifically for a fall harvest. You might consider picking up a few new packs of seeds, such as Marathon broccoli or any savoy cabbage, to align your varietals with the season.

Beets and Carrots: can be grouped together because they’re both direct-seeded and they have somewhat similar heights and life spans. They can be seeded anytime between now and late July. Like the brassicas, July-planted roots will be ready to harvest this fall. Late-summer planted carrots often can be stored directly in the garden through the winter, especially if you provide them with a nice warming mulch such as straw. Beets, on the other hand, despise a frost, so make sure to get them out of the ground and into the fridge before the first cold snap.

Cucumbers and Summer Squash: Many gardeners plant these crops only once per season. However, they both still have time to grow to maturity if planted in mid- or late June. Putting in a second planting will help extend your harvest.  Even the healthiest cucumbers and summer squash tend to run out of mojo by early fall. Your second planting will just be coming into maturity as your first planting peters out.

Plant Salad Greens if you haven’t already.  Although many salad greens prefer the cooler temperatures of spring and fall, you still can keep the salad going through the heat of summer. Look for lettuce varieties, such as Jericho, that are bred to tolerate higher temperatures. You also can take advantage of the less desirable, shadier parts of your garden by planting your lettuce and arugula in June, July and August. Some salad greens, especially mustards such as mizuna, Ruby Streaks and Green Wave, will tolerate just about any summer heat wave.  Keep the good times rolling by fitting some of these second-planted crops into your garden and dinner plans this summer. Happy planting!

In the Ornamental Garden

Keep weeding!

Prune rhododendrons and lilacs after they are done flowering.

Cut back sedum Autumn Joy to keep the stems from getting leggy and toppling over in the fall.

Plant summer and fall-blooming perennials to extend the bloom season. 

Plant flowers for late-summer and fall color:  Consider planting zinnias, sunflowers, and other annuals for late-summer and fall color. 

Fertilize and care for existing plants: Fertilize roses and perennials this month. Also regularly fertilize bedding plants, perennials, and annuals to encourage continued bloom. Water deeply and apply mulch to retain moisture. 

Protect new transplants from heat and drought by providing shade (or a shade cloth) and watering deeply. 

Don’t forget annuals in full bloom for instant color! Deadhead annual flowers to keep your plants producing new flowers all summer long. Pinching back leggy stems will also encourage bushiness.

Try going native!  Native plants, being adapted to our soil and climate, are naturally easy-care.  And they appeal as much to wildlife as to humans, attracting birds and pollinators to your garden. 

Deep watering: June is a good time to give your trees and shrubs deep watering. 

It’s also your last great chance to get major plantings established before summer’s heat and drought can stress transplants. 

Containers & Hanging Baskets - Fertilize heavy blooming annuals in containers or baskets every two weeks with a water-soluble plant food.  Water regularly!  A container can dry out in less than a day in hot weather.

Watch for aphids and other pests and take appropriate action.  This time of year, watch for aphids on tender new growth and use ladybugs to control them.  Apply nematodes to control flea larvae, root weevils, and soil-dwelling insect pests.

Lawn Care

Consider a no-mow lawn: Consider replacing your lawn with a no-mow groundcover for easier maintenance. 

If you have grass: Your lawn needs 1 to 2 inches of water per week to keep from going dormant in the summer.  If you do let it go dormant, leave your lawn alone as much as possible until fall rains green it up again. If your lawn is used heavily while it is dormant, you may need to reseed/renovate it in the fall.

Reduce your water needs by setting your mowing height higher and using a mulching mower. Improving your soil with extra compost can also promote deeper root growth and increased drought resistance.  Healthy turf will weather drought stress better, so make sure your grass starts the summer in good shape by following a good fertilizing and liming schedule.  If you didn’t feed your lawn organic fertilizer Memorial Day weekend, do so now.  Do not fertilize with a fast-release (chemical) fertilizer if drought is anticipated! 

If weeds are a problem, try pulling or spot-treating rather than using a weed & feed product.  Remember that a well-fed lawn can outgrow most weed problems.