Welcome to June! June is the Observance Month for a lot of things including Dairy Month, Dairy Alternative Month, DIY Month, National Accordion Awareness Month, National Soul Food Month, National Bathroom Reading Month, National Safety Month, National GLBT Month, Turkey Lovers Month (say what?), as well as National Rose Month and Perennial Gardening Month.
2012 JUNE GARDENING CHECKLIST
-Have weeds in the lawn? Spot treat lawn weeds with broadleaf weed killers like “Weed Beater Ultra” or Fertilome’s WeedFree Zone. Early June is also a good time for a lawn feeding (if needed) before summer arrives.
-Continue planting new trees, shrubs, perennials, roses, herbs, veggies, annuals, etc.
-Do succession plantings in the garden. Many veggies can be planted well into the summer season, both in ground or in containers.
-Add water plants to the water garden.
-Mulch the garden to help reduce weeds, control soil temps and moisture.
-Use fencing to protect plants from critter damages, or continue applying critter repellents.
-Watch for the appearance of bagworms on susceptible evergreens including spruce, junipers, arborvitae, pines, etc. Use “Bt” or “Capt. Jack’s Deadbug Brew” for early control.
-Keep deadheading spent flowers on annuals, perennials, roses, etc. to encourage new growth and more flowers. Feed as needed to encourage new growth and more flowers.
-Move tropical plants outside to enjoy the summer weather. Place them in a shady location for a week to acclimate them going back outside and into the sun. Watch for insects on your plants, and feed as needed. Repot houseplants if needed.
-Finish pruning spring flowering plants like azaleas and rhodos, lilacs, forsythia and more. Good time to feed them as well.
-Harvest herbs on a regular basis.
-Thin excessive fruits on fruit trees as needed, and watch for insects and disease. Keep fungicidal sprayings going as needed.
-Watch for leaf diseases and insects. Catch them early, get them identified and if control is needed. Then consider all options before spraying. BEE friendly when spraying.
-Water your lawn and plants as needed. As a general rule, established plants (and lawns) would like 1 inch of rainfall every 10 days or so for optimum growth. Newly planted plants may require watering more often depending on size of root ball, location, etc. Check the soil each time BEFORE watering. When you do water, do it deeply and thoroughly. Don’t be a water tease!
-Let foliage on spring bulbs die back naturally, or at least 6-8 weeks after flowering before cutting them back. Then is a good time to dig and move the bulbs if needed.
-Fluff existing mulch, and then add mulch as needed for summer mulching. Remember, 1-3 inches deep – less is better than more. And never place mulch against the trunks of trees.
-Time to re-apply “Preen”, Corn Gluten meal, or other per emergent in the landscape beds and garden for summer weed seed control. Same applies to lawn pre emergent depending on how long the chemicals last. Grass growing in groundcovers, existing plants or landscape plantings? Try Fertilome’s “Over the Top” or Bonide’s ‘Grass Beater’. Great for controlling weedy grasses, yet does not affect existing desirable plants (read labels for restrictions).
-Feed those containers, annuals and perennials as they are really growing now and need that booster.
-Mow the lawn on a regular basis, mow higher rather than lower, never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blades each time you mow, throw your clippings back into the turf, and change directions each time you mow. And get that mower blade sharpened!
Feature Tip: June is Perennial Gardening Month. Our garden stores will be fully stocked with a complete selection of perennials in June, so stop in and see what’s blooming – then take it home and plant in your garden. For colors from flowers and foliage that keeps coming back year after year, plant perennials (in the garden or in containers). June is also National Rose Month.
