What's On The Agenda?

Things you could or should be doing in your garden in…

… June

Summer officially arrives this month, along with the hot, humid weather!

Be sure to keep pinching off flower spikes on basil, mint, caladiums and coleus to keep them producing their foliage.

Make sure to keep mower blades sharp; cutting is less damaging than tearing grass blades. As the weather warms up, the grass grows faster; begin raising your mower height to cause less stress on the grass.

Fertilize warm season grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia) with a turf-type slow-release fertilizer.

Look out for brown patches in fescue lawns; too much water and fertilizer encourages the spread of this disease.

To avoid wasting water, monitor irrigation systems for leaks and spraying onto sidewalks or driveways and repair/adjust heads as needed.

Spend time observing your garden. Spotting bug/disease/drought problems before they get out of hand makes them easier to manage and remedy.

An adequately mulched layer in garden beds helps conserve moisture, reduce weeds and keep the root zone cooler.

If you haven’t already, apply systemic insecticides (usually containing imidacloprid) to azaleas, hibiscus and gardenias to control lacebugs and whiteflies.

Pick squash, cucumbers and beans every other day to encourage a continual harvest; early morning and late evenings are the best time to get out in the garden.

Water tomato plants regularly to maintain even moisture levels; this will help prevent blossom end rot and encourage proper fruit set.

Deadhead annuals and perennials to encourage repeat blooming.

Apply an appropriate liquid fertilizer solution to container plantings to give them a boost.

Be prepared to combat Japanese beetles; they will be around and there are several methods of control, but none are foolproof.