Monthly Gardening Tasks - June

Check for insects and diseases. Spider mites can be especially troublesome at this time.

Supplemental irrigation is essential for many ornamental plants such as Coleus, Caladium, Geranium, Dahlia, Azalea, and Camellia during the hot dry summer days ahead. Water lawn and garden thoroughly but not too frequently. As a general rule,, soak to a depth of 8 inches. Finish watering by 2 p.m. to lessen the chance of disease.

During summer, water or soil moisture becomes extremely important and essential for good plant production. Because continual watering is often times costly and time consuming, it pays to conserve the moisture around plants.

The best way to conserve garden moisture is by mulching. A good mulch will not only retain valuable moisture needed for plant growth but will insure several other things as well to improve gardening success.

Mulches are usually applied 2 to 6 inches deep, depending on the material used. In general, the coarser the material, the deeper the mulch. For example, a 2-inch layer of cotton seed hulls will have about the same mulching effect as 6 inches of oat straw or 4 inches of coastal Bermuda hay.

Still time to plant some of the colorful heat tolerant summer annuals. You can direct-seed zinnias and portulaca and purchase plants of periwinkle, salvia and marigold. Just be sure to water transplants as needed until roots become established.

Removing faded flowers from the plant before they set seed will keep the plants growing and producing more flowers. A light application of fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks will also be helpful.

Houseplants can be moved outdoors this month. Sink the pots in a cool, shaded garden bed to prevent them from drying out so quickly. Water pots, container plants and hanging basket often. Monthly feeding with a houseplant fertilizer will encourage continued growth.

June is a time to select daylily varieties as they reach their peak of bloom.

Roses

Continue to spray roses with a good black spot control such as Funginex, Benlate or Manzate.

Fertilize rose bed every 4 to 6 weeks. Best to apply a high nitrogen fertilizer immediately after a flush of bloom.

Garden Checklist for June

By Dr. William C. Welch, Professor and Landscape Horticulturist, Texas A & M University

Take a critical look at your landscape at the height of summer development. Make notes of any plants that need replacement, overgrown plants that need to be removed, better arrangements for your landscape, and possible activity areas that can be enjoyed by family members. These are good projects for next winter.

Check for insects and diseases. Spider mites can be especially troublesome at this time. Insecticidal soaps or labeled miticides can be helpful in their control.

The best way to conserve garden moisture is mulching. A good mulch not only retains valuable moisture needed for plant growth, but also improves overall gardening success.

Hand pull or hoe weeds before they mature and produce seed.

Mulches are usually applied 2- to 6-inches deep, depending on the material used. In general, the coarser the material, the deeper the mulch. For example, a 2-inch layer of cotton seed hulls will have about the same mulching effect as 6 inches of oat straw or 4 inches of coastal Bermuda hay.

Removing faded flowers from the plant before it sets seed will keep plants growing and producing more flowers. A light application of fertilizer every four to six weeks will also be helpful.

Houseplants can be moved outside this month. Sink the pots in a cool, shaded garden bed to prevent them from drying out too quickly. Water pots, container plants and hanging baskets often. Monthly feeding with a household fertilizer encourages continued growth.

Now is the time to plan for next spring. Consider digging and dividing any crowded spring bulbs. Once bulbs have matured and the foliage has turned brown, it is time to spade them up and thin out the stand. Crowded bulbs produce fewer and smaller blooms. They usually need thinning every three to four years. Replant immediately in prepared soils.

June is the month to select day lily varieties as they reach their peak bloom.

Fertilize rose beds every four to six weeks. Apply small amounts of fertilizer high in nitrogen immediately after a flush of bloom or every four to six weeks.

There is still time to plant some of the heat-tolerant summer annuals. You can direct-seed zinnias and portulaca, and purchase periwinkle, salvia, marigold and purslane plants for transplanting. Be sure to water transplants adequately until roots become established.

Pinch back chrysanthemums, Mexican marigold mint, autumn asters and other late summer and fall blooming annuals to prevent the necessity for staking.