JUNE GARDENING CALENDER

First week of June:

Ø      Check your bedding plants; remove old flower heads to prolong the blooming period. Also, pinch mums for bushier plants.

Ø      Make another planting of vegetables, such as sweet corn and snap beans.

Ø      Thin out vegetable plantings, for instance, beets and lettuce.

Ø      Feed your roses every month until early August with ¼ cup of 10-10-10 per plant.

Second week of June:

Ø      Prune spring flowering shrubs after blooming is finished.

Ø      Spray your mimosa and honey locust for webworms. Look for small clumps of leaves tied together with silk threads scattered over the tree. Upon closer examination, the upper surface of the leaves are skeletonized. The leaves turn brown and die, which will make the tree look as if it has been scorched by a fire.

Ø      Take care of your newly planted trees and shrubs. They should receive a thorough soaking each week. Mulch to conserve moisture.

Third week of June:

Ø      Control aphids and other pests on vegetables by removing, spraying or washing.

Ø      Place cages or stakes to support growing tomato plants. Cages or trellises work well for growing cucumbers, too.

Ø      Be careful trimming grass around young trees and shrubs when using trimmers. The young tender bark on these plants can be easily broken, resulting in injury to the water-transporting tissue and creating openings for insects and disease to enter.

Last week of June:

Ø      Continue spraying your roses and fruit trees.

Ø      Check your ornamentals for scale insects; these need to be treated if present.

Ø      Mid to late June is a great time to start new plants from soft wood cuttings of shrubs, such as azalea, spirea, boxwood, camellia, hydrangea, etc.

Ø      Mow and fertilize strawberries after fruiting.