June Gardening To-Dos

The beginning of June marks the start of major weather changes. Here in So-Cal it means "June Gloom" mornings and hot afternoons inland. Summer means longer days for gardening. Gardeners can garden from sunup to sundown ( late summer sundowns can be as late as 9 p.m.).

Here's a list of June To-Dos to keep your garden in tip-top shape. 

KEEP WATERING

• Mostly your new plants, seedlings, young veggies and container plants. When watering give a good soaking. Watering a little is bad for your plants. The roots should always go deeper looking for water. Watering with small amounts encourage roots to go to the surface in search of water, which is harmful int he long run making them more vulnerable during hot weather.  Water your hanging plants and container plants more often as they tend to dry out more quickly. When the soil in your containers becomes dry, it pulls away from the sides of your container, so be careful not to water and have it run right thru. If your container looks too dry soak it in a bucket of water to ensure a good and thorough soaking.

APPLY & RENEW MULCH

• Mulch minimizes water loss and keeps weeds at bay. Always apply your mulch to wet soil to lock in moisture. Mulch keeps moisure in and can keep it out. Remember to leave the area directly around your plants clear, do not mulch right up to your plants. You should also mulch your container plants to help with moisture.

MOW AND FERTILIZE YOUR LAWN

• Mow once a week and leave your clippings on the grass.
• Raise your mower blades for longer grass. This will help your lawn hold moisture longer.
• Mow each time in a different direction. If you always mow in the same direction your grass will grow in that direction and make it harder for your mower blades to cut.
• Use a liquid fertilizer for a quick pick up for tired lawns.

DEADHEAD OLD FLOWERS

• Regular deadheading can extend your bloom time and encourages new growth, not to mention your plants look better.

SUMMER ROSE CARE

• Prune your spent roses back to a bud in a leaf axil lower down the stem to promote healthy new shoots.
• Remove dead or diseased wood. Keeping your sharp blade on the pruner down cut at a slight angle to your outward facing leaf. Remember that your stems will never be thicker than the stemit comes from.
• Fertilize your roses with a special rose fertilizer or one high in Potash to strenthen your roses stem growth.

CHECK FOR PESTS & DISEASES

•   In warmer weather pests and diseases can multiply more quickly

PLANT YOUR BEDS WITH HEARTY HEAT TOLERANT PERENNIALS

• Hollyhocks
• Sunflowers
• California Poppies
• Verbena
• Border Phlox
• Petunias
• Day Lillies
• Morning Glories
• Cosmos
• Delphinium
• Zinnias
• Corn Flowers
• Lobelia
• Peruvian Lillies
• Marguerites
• Salvia
• Mallow
• Penstemon
• Late flowering Clamatis

These are just a few. Happy June Gardening!