Super Fitness Health BlogJune Garden And Landscape Guide
In Northern United States and Canada
By the middle of the month at the latest all such bedding plants as Begonias, Cannas, Fuchsias, Geraniums, Heliotropes, Abutilons and Blood Leaf should be set in the location they are to decorate. Early June, too, is an appropriate time for planting Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplants. Sow seeds of fast-growing annuals, such as Zinnias, Globe Amarants, Marigolds, Sweet Alyssum, Cosmos and Sunflowers, for a good display later. Continue to make regular sowings of Corn, Beets, Carrots, Lettuce and other crops of this type. Make modest sowings of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli.
Propagate Strawberries by runners to provide strong young plants for setting out in newly prepared beds in August. It is by no means too late to set,out Dahlias. Indeed, plantings made at this time usually do better than earlier ones. Plant, too, Gladioli, Montbretias, Caladiums, Tigridias and Tuberous Begonias. When the foliage has died is the best time to lift, separate and replant Narcissi that have been in position for some years and have become crowded and perhaps weakened.
The shearing of hedges will now demand attention. Cut them so that the base of the hedge is a little wider than the top. If you didn’t make sowings of perennials in late May, do so now. Among the best kinds to raise in this way are Delphiniums, Columbines, Anchusas, Stokesias, Geums, Alyssums, Iberis, Campanulas and Coreopsis. This is a good time to insert cuttings of many perennials and rock garden plants. Set them in a bed of well-firmed sand or in perlite or vermiculite in a shaded coldframe.
Routine chores such as picking faded blooms, cutting off old flower stems, cultivating, weeding and watering are likely to take a good deal of time this month. Take faded flowers off Lilacs, Rhododendrons and Azaleas. June is the month of Roses. Now comes their finest display. Cut their flowers with discretion, leaving behind as many leaves as possible. Keep up the dusting or spraying program faithfully.
Mulching to conserve moisture, reduce weeding, maintain more even soil temperatures and, in some cases, to improve fertility is an admirable practice. It is important to spread the mulches before really hot weather arrives. Control of weeds in lawns should receive serious attention. Various sprays are available for different kinds of weeds. These should be used in the ways recommended by their manufacturers. Hand weeding is effective and inexpensive. House plants may be put outdoors now for a Summery “vacation.” For those kinds that need shade, a spot under a tree or along the north side of a wall is suitable.
In the South
Don’t let your garden suffer from lack of moisture. Adequate watering during periods of dry weather is one of the great secrets of success with flower gardening, vegetable gardening and the maintenance of lawns. Moisture-loving trees and shrubs, too, must be cared for in this respect. This particularly applies to trees, shrubs and evergreens that have been transplanted within the last year.
Mulching is a great aid in conserving moisture and brings other benefits too. Keep Dahlias pruned, staked and tied and water them, fertilize them and cultivate the soil about them shallowly to promote healthy growth. Remove faded blooms from Crape Myrtles, Butterfly Bushes, and from annuals and perennials. Azaleas and many other kinds of shrubs and some trees can be propagated by cuttings inserted now. Dahlias, Gladioli and Cannas can be planted until the middle of the month.
On the West Coast
In the northwest make sowings of Beets, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Kohlrabi, Rutabaga. Carrots and Beets for late crops. Summer-flowering plants such as Roses, Fuchsias, bird of paradise, Geraniums, Begonias and Dahlias will benefit from a light dressing of fertilizer applied this month.
Watering and other routine chores such as staking and tying and cultivating as well as harvesting will occupy much of the gardener’s time during June. Attention to disease and pest control must not be relaxed. Pick faded blooms from Azaleas and Rhododendrons before seed pods form. Wage constant warfare on weeds.
Comments are currently closed.