It’s summer! Our kids are finally done with school, and it’s time to plan for summer vacation. You don’t have to go very far to have a fun afternoon adventure with your kids or grandkids. Gardening is a great afternoon adventure, and your backyard is the perfect place to have little fun. Take a trip to the garden store let them pick out flowers to plant in a patio container! Tomatoes are a great choice!
June Landscape Checklist
Planting
- Plant crape myrtles in bloom to be sure of their color.Extension Publication 2007, “Crapemyrtle – Flower of the South.”
- Plant warm-season grasses: Bermuda, centipede, zoysia, and St. Augustine (June to August).
- Replace turf in deep shade with ground cover: liriope, ajuga, vinca, or pachysandra.
- Summer annuals: ageratum, cockscomb, impatiens, marigolds, sunflowers, four-o’clocks, and periwinkle.
- Plant tomatoes late this month to ensure harvest late into fall. Cherry tomatoes and Bella Rosa varieties are good choices for heat tolerance.
- Select daylilies in bloom for planting in your garden.
- Plant zinnias and marigolds now for a second crop of flowers.
- Gladiolus planted now will give lovely fall blooms.
Fertilizing
- Fertilize all ornamental shrubs/trees and annuals/perennials with a slow-release fertilizer. For more information check out this fertilizing ornamental trees and shrubs information sheet!
- Fertilize camellias with azalea-camellia fertilizer if not done earlier in the year
- Fertilize tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini monthly with 5-10-10
Pest Control
- Scout the landscape/garden regularly for pests and treat as needed. Insect Pests of the Home Vegetable Garden (Extension Publication 2347) is a great resource, providing detail on the many insects you will encounter during growing season.
- Remove zinnias with powdery mildew and replant
Pruning
- Prune oleanders after blooming ends
- Pinch dahlias and mums to ensure a compact growth habit
- Remove blackberry fruiting canes after harvest. Prune new canes to encourage side branching. For more information about growing blackberries, read Extension Publication 3410, “Establishing a Home Fruit Orchard,” Extension Publication 3067, “Chilling-Hour Requirements for Fruit Crops,” and Extension Information Sheet 1444, “Fruit and Nut Review – Blackberries.”
- Remove faded flowers from daisies, daylilies, and other summer flowers
Blooming
- Chinese parasols, golden raintrees, cletheras, and catalpas.Ageratum, balloon flowers, bee balm, begonias, butterfly weeds, coreopsis, cornflowers, gladiolus, hollyhocks, nicotianas, petunias, phlox, scabiosas, Shasta daisies, verbenas.
If you’re going out of town for vacation, remember to ask a neighbor to water your plants for you while you’re gone! Be sure to return the favor when they head out of town!
