Summer has arrived! Here is a to do list for the month of June that will help enjoy spending time in your garden entertaining guests or finding inner peace.
URNS & POTS : Planters and urns add a lot of color to the patio, deck or pool side. Make sure to choose larger containers to avoid frequent watering. Refresh existing planters with summer blooming annuals.
VEGETABLE GARDENS : Enjoy your tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, basil etc. You can still plant squash, eggplants and pumpkins. Watch out for those summer pests such as leaf-footed bugs and worms on tomatoes. Provide a birdbath full of water for birds, so they do not peck your fruit and vegetables for moisture
LAWN: Raise lawn mower blades to cut 3″ high so your grass can retain moisture and prevent diseases and pests.
WEEDING: This is an on going chore! I recommend keeping up with the weeds in the early morning hours. Keep a thick layer of mulch in your beds to reduce the amount of spouting weeds.
PRUNING: Coleus should be pinched to avoid flowering. This will produce a thicker bushier compact habit. Remove spent blooms on spring/summer annuals such as Salvia, Angelonia and Penta. Dead head young Vitex trees to encourage repeat blooms and dead head your roses. Remove any foliage that looks like it is dying or diseased.
FERTILIZING: Use a slow release organic fertilizer such as Holganix Bloom on vegetable gardens, landscape and containers. Color Star fertilizer can be used on seasonal color and perennials.
WATERING: As always, I suggest slow deep root watering especially on trees. Try to avoid frequent short watering.
PESTS: Stay alert for pests as well as beneficial insects. Pests are very active this time of year. Snails in particular are extremely active will all the rain, they are best picked early in the morning when they are most active.
OUTDOOR FURNITURE : Add new throw pillows to your outdoor furniture to brighten up and revive. Don’t forget to spray a water repellant on your outdoor cushions. An outdoor rug unifies the space and adds a little splash of color!
Ciao Mardel
