JUNE GARDENING TASKS

Water  Long drinks are better than short and often...especially for shrubs like roses, camellias and hydrangeas.  But don’t over-water lavenders, rosemary and other drought-tolerant plants...they need just a little bit to look good during the summer.

Conserve moisture and prevent weeds with a two-inch thick layer of mulch.  I like to use a fine to medium texture mulch...looks more natural.

Evergreen shrub hedges should be pruned back now if they are too tall and wide. They will recover nicely with the long days ahead.

Remove spent blossoms on all flowering plants.  Perennials and annuals will keep on blooming if you deadhead.  Deadheading regularly also keeps your garden looking well-cared for.

Roses  Black spot and rust are problems now...remove all infected leaves on plant and on soil surface.  Fertilize and give a good, long drink if you don’t have automatic irrigation.   Best to water in the morning.  Avoid spraying water on rose bushes to avoid fungal issues.  Dead-headings cut should be made just above five-leaflet leaves..

Rhododendrons should be pinched back after they finish flowering.

Fertilize citrus  especially if leaves look yellow which indicates a nitrogen deficiency.

Remove suckers on trees otherwise you will end up with a bush!  Cut back suckers to base of trunk.  If they are small enough you can just pinch them off.

Sow sunflower seeds for a late summer blooms.  

Plant tomatoes, peppers and eggplant

Thin fruit trees to one fruit every four to six inches.  Thinning produces larger, better fruit and will prevent branches from breaking once fruits reach maturity.  

Water  Vegetable and fruit plants need more water than other plants because of food production.  Watering in the morning is best, water deeply and less often and don’t spray leaves with water...otherwise you can develop fungal problems.

Mulch around plants to keep moisture from evaporating.