June Garden Chores
By: Carol Kay, Master Gardener

After spring bulbs are done and spring blooming shrubs have finished, the heat of summer approaches and we are at a transition point in the garden. The first and most important chore we can do to keep the garden looking good is to deadhead faded flowers. If you do not want annuals to re-seed, now is the time to remove seedpods. Do not cut tops of tulips and daffodils, peonies, or irises as this supplies food to the bulbs for next year. Remove only the flower stems. Ground cover sedum (ice plant) and ajuga should be sheared back to remove the old blooms and groom the plants so their foliage looks good through the remainder of the season. Spring blooming shrubs like forsythia, lilacs, flowering almonds and flowering quince can be pruned. Pruning them now allows the shrubs to row vigorous new shoots that will produce next spring's flowers. In the case of lilacs, removal of the seeds before they ripen will conserve the plant energy and promote more profuse flowers next spring.

Also, before July 1, cut back tops of chrysanthemums 1/2 height of stem. This may be done by "pinching" or breaking off stems, or if large areas are involved, hedge trimmers or shears may be used. This promotes "bushing" for a fuller, bigger plant with more blooms in the fall.

June is the optimum time to fertilize deciduous trees and shrubs, (those that lose their foliage in the fall). They have recharged their depleted winter food reserves with photosynthesis from their new foliage and are ready to absorb nutrients that will fuel this summer's growth. Note that perennials should receive their main fertilizer application in the fall (or early spring if you missed the fall).

Second in importance to water is mulch, mulch, mulch which will preserve the water. Make sure your garden soil is well covered. Mulch shades the ground, reducing water evaporation and keeps the soil cooler for better plant growth. Note that in areas where slugs are a problem, avoid organic mulches like compost and bark chips, which can attract these slimy pests. Instead, use crushed gravel, volcanic rock or pine needles. These impede the movement of the creatures to the plant. Diatomaceous earth (a mixture containing crushed seashells) is often used.

Planting warm season grasses is usually done at this time. Buffalo, blue gamma, zoysia and bermuda grasses are warm season growers. That means that they wait for the day and night temperatures to warm-up before they start their annual growth cycle. By planting seeds or plugs now you can have a good looking, established lawn by summer's end. Bluegrass, fescue and other cool season grasses may require up to 4 feet of water annually to be kept healthy and green. This translates into deep watering frequently during dry, hot spells (1 " per week to ten days).