June is a great time to plant vegetable and flower gardens. However, if you live in cooler climates, be sure to check the weather for frost.
It’s also a good time to harvest asparagus and rhubarb. This gives the plants a chance to store energy in their roots and crowns for next year’s crop.
Weed
Weeding is a necessary part of keeping your garden healthy and growing. But if you’re not careful, weeds can take over your garden and become difficult to control.
This June, weeding is especially important as the weather gets hotter and weeds thrive in these warm conditions. Continually patrol your garden area for weeds and pluck them out whenever you spot them.
Young weeds are easier to remove than older ones, and catching them when they’re just emerging from the ground will help keep them from spreading throughout your garden.
Make a barrier of cardboard, toilet paper rolls or other stiff material to block weeds from getting into your flower beds. You can also use a fence made of old milk cartons or tin cans to deter weeds from getting into your vegetable gardens.
Plant beans, squash, melons and cucumbers, and make trellises for them to grow on. This is a good time to succession plant fast-growing crops such as peas, carrots and radishes.
Fertilize
Fertilizer is a vitally important part of any home garden. It helps plants thrive by providing a balanced supply of three key nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are all available in many different forms, including synthetic granular fertilizers and composted manures. When choosing the right fertilizer for your specific needs, check the label.
Plants require a constant supply of the essential nutrients found in fertilizers and compost to maintain healthy growth and flowering. During every growing season, they extract these nutrients from the soil.
To help your garden thrive, apply a fertilizer that is specifically designed for vegetables or edible crops. This will provide the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for your specific vegetable crop.
Mulch
Mulching is the spread of organic matter on the surface of soil to protect and improve it. It can be a tedious job, but it’s essential to maintaining healthy, productive gardens.
Adding mulch to your garden helps reduce weeds, conserves water and adds nutrients to the soil. It also moderates soil temperatures, reducing the chance of frost and thaw damage.
There are many types of mulch to choose from, including wood chips, stone chippings, shredded leaves and gravel. The type you choose depends on the purpose and climate of your area.
Biodegradable mulches will boost the fertility of your soil, suppress weeds and help preserve moisture. They are also more decorative than non-biodegradable mulches and are a good option for pathways or borders around your yard.
Water
Watering is key to plant health, and if your garden doesn’t have a good watering schedule in place, it’s likely not functioning at its best. Whether you’re using sprinklers, a hose, or drip irrigation, make sure your plants are getting the right amount of moisture at the right time.
In June, watch for pests and diseases that can be particularly problematic, including caterpillar damage to roses and perennial flowers, aphids on roses and vegetables, and shothole fungus on cherries, plums and their relatives. If you see these, ask our experts to recommend an appropriate insecticide.
June is the month to plant summer-flowering bulbs such as begonias and dahlias. They will flower throughout the month, and then set seed early to provide flowers for next year.