This month, vibrant colors and abundant growth set the stage for a delightful outdoor experience. With longer days and warmer temperatures, June invites us to embrace the beauty of fragrant blooming flowers, lush foliage, and freshly picked berries, and to indulge in the wonders of our garden sanctuaries.
June To Do List in the Garden
Seasonal Color
Many warm-season beauties are now available: dahlias, lilies, zinnias, begonias
Keep summer annuals blooming by pinching off spent flowers, watering, and fertilizing (all-purpose or bloom booster).
Roses should be in full bloom!
PLANTING & MAINTENANCE
Landscape plants can still be planted! This is a great time to visit our garden centers for ideas and inspiration.
Water well as summer heat arrives. Oregon summers can be quite dry; new plantings and containers are most vulnerable.
- Use high-quality hoses and sprinklers.
- Apply an inch or so of organic mulch to mature beds and new plantings to suppress weeds and conserve water.
Most plants will benefit from feeding this month, especially containers, flower beds, and vegetables. We recommend G&B organic fertilizers in granular or liquid form.
Now that roses are in bloom:
- Fertilize regularly; remove old flowers and damaged leaves.
- Watch for fungal diseases (powdery mildew, black spot); treat with Bonide Neem Oil.
- If insects/diseases were a past problem or disease is taking over, treat with Bayer 3-in-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control.
Most fruit trees can be pruned when fruit locations are obvious (especially espaliered forms).
Spring flowering shrubs and vines (rhododendrons, lilacs, spring-blooming clematis) can be pruned as flowers fade.
It’s also okay to prune boxwood, holly, wisteria, and broad-leafed evergreens (hedges).
EDIBLE GARDENING
Fertilize veggie garden one month after plants emerge; side dress along rows with G&B Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer.
Plant: beets, broccoli (starts), cabbage (starts), carrots, celery, (starts), cauliflower (starts), corn, cucumber (starts), kale, lettuce (starts), leeks, parsley (starts), pepper (starts), potatoes (end of month), radish, snap beans, squash (starts), tomato (starts)
Thin plants for proper spacing as they grow. Harvest thinnings from lettuce, peas, onion, chard; eat as baby/micro greens.
After normal fruit drop of apples, pears, and peaches, consider thinning the remainder to produce larger fruit crop.
Pick ripe strawberries regularly to avoid fruit-rotting diseases; control pests with Bonide Slug Magic or Bonide Slug & Bug.
Pest and weed control:
- Bring home ladybugs to combat pests or attract beneficial insects by planting insectary plants (alyssum, coriander, candytuft, sunflower, yarrow, dill).
- Spray apple/pear trees for codling moth in first and last week of June, as needed; use a hose-end sprayer with Bonide Captain Jack’s. Use pheromone traps for detection.
- Control aphids on vegetables; hose off with water, release beneficial bugs, or use Neem Oil.
- Monitor beans and lettuce for 12-spotted beetles; check cole crops for cabbage worms or flea beetles. Remove by hand or treat with Bonide Captain Jack’s or Neem Oil.
- Control garden weeds by pulling, hoeing, or mulching.
Organizing the Garden Shed
Summer brings pests. Along with standard chemical controls, we offer earth-friendly, organic solutions such as live beneficial insects and natural products to control slugs, aphids, mites, mildews, caterpillars, root weevils, budworms.
Our staff is here to help solve any of your garden challenges. Bring in a bagged sample of your problems for expert advice.
Indoor Gardening in June
As summer weather beckons us outdoors, indoor plant maintenance becomes routine.
- Increase watering and occasional misting, especially if running air conditioners which can dry out indoor air.
- Feed regularly with balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ strength.
- Continue to monitor for pests.
- Move houseplants outside to shaded areas for natural light. Watch for sunburn on tender foliage; move plants away from direct sun or out of hottest rooms.
What to Do for Fun in June
Enjoy summer by relaxing in your gorgeous garden.
- Create a backyard bouquet with cut flowers and foliage.
- Add fresh herbs from your garden to a recipe or beverage.
- Talk a walk in your neighborhood to admire other gardens!
- Attend or watch one of our classes for information and inspiration.
View the garden tips and checklist for July in the Garden.
Or go back and view the tips and checklist for May in the Garden.