FLOWER GARDEN NEWS

GARDEN MENU

JUNE In early Summer; as always, the weather still guides us as to what we can do in the garden. For most gardeners, the month of June is full of weeding, watering, staking, mulching, deadheading, fertilizing, and pruning. All necessary tasks for a rewarding garden of color. ALWAYS let the weather be your guide, and use this garden calendar as a simple reminder as to what needs to be done in your garden this month. SOIL - Feed the garden with organic fertilizer such as garden compost (composted humus), and leaf mould, or an artificial fertilizer. In cooler climates, mulch gardens when soil has warmed. ANNUALS / BEDDING PLANTS - Continue to plant annuals in containers, window boxes, hanging baskets for an added splash of color, and continuous blooms all summer long. - Remove faded flowers from annuals to encourage repeated blooming. - In warmer climates pinch back taller growing annuals. - Start feeding planting annuals. - If needed, weed and mulch flower beds. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. PERENNIALS - Continue to plant container grown perennials. - As growth starts, feed summer blooming perennials with a fertilizer; following instructions provided. - Remove faded flowers of spring blooming perennials before they go to seed. - Stake perennials that will need it while they are small, and ones that have become in need of support. - If needed, weed and mulch flower beds. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. BULBS - After spring bulbs have flowered, feed them a bulb fertilizer or bone meal. - Remove faded flowers from spring flowering bulbs. - Remove leaves from bulbs that have become yellow. - Dig up finished spring blooming bulbs that like dry conditions and store in a cool, dark, and dry area. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. HERBS -Finish  planting herbs. - Pinch tips of annual herbs to encourage new growth. -In warmer climates you can begin cutting herbs for storage and cooking. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. CLIMBERS - In warmer climates start to train climbers by tying now. - Make sure climbing vines have a trellis or lattice to climb on. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. TREES / SHRUBS - Continue to take soft wood cuttings of spring and early summer flowering shrubs. - After spring flowering shrubs bloom and flowers have died off, and thin branches out if needed. - Trim and shape evergreen shrubs. - Mulch broad-leaved Evergreens. - Fertilize new growing shrubs and trees. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. CONTAINERS -Finish filling containers with bedding plants, and other plant selections from annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, and climbers. - Remove any faded flowers to encourage repeated blooming. - Water containers regularly in hot weather. - Feed container plants if needed. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. VEGETABLES - Finish sowing or planting tender vegetables outdoors if you haven't already done so. - Water regularly in hot weather. - Continue to weed vegetable garden. - If desired, feed established vegetables following the fertilizer's instructions. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. FRUITS - Trim out diseased wood from fruit tress, if haven't already done so. - Train shoots of soft fruit. - Thin out apples when branches become weighted down. -A good time to mulch strawberries. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. LAWNS - Continue to repair any lawn damage. - Feed lawns with a fertilizer for healthy growth. - Sow grass seed for new lawns and for needed areas in existing lawns. -If necessary, lay sod now for new lawns. - Lawn may be raked, aerated, and mowed. - When lawn starts to grow; adjust the lawn mower to summer cutting level. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. GARDENING FUN - Enter a contest at Flower Garden News today! Click here for contest details.   - Use these free printable photos for your own personal use. Use in crafts, framed pictures, journaling, decoupage, scrapbooking, and for screen savers or backgrounds for your own computer, and more.   GARDEN JOURNALING - Don't forget to take a before picture of your yard or gardens. Put photos in your garden journal. It is a great way to keep records to see how much your garden has grown and changed. - Keep those seed packets and plant tags in your garden journals for future reference. Great source of plant care information. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS - Have a look around to see what is in need of repair. Check arbors, trellises, fences, stakes, walkways, planters, and anything else you may have in your garden and yards. GARDEN TOOLS - If you haven't already done so, retrieve any tools you have sent out for repairs. Set the lawnmower blade back to summer cutting height.   I hope you have found a reminder that was useful for you and your garden. Happy planting! Click here to go back to the month by month garden calendar.