Monitor both ornamental and edible gardens for Japanese Beetles, which can rapidly skeletonize the leaves and flowers of many plants. Pick them off by hand early in the morning when the beetles are sluggish and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
Be on alert for rabbit damage. The most effective method for repelling rabbits is to install a physical barrier comprised of chicken wire or other wire with openings no more than one inch wide. Rabbits can tunnel, so bury the bottom of the fence about 6 inches deep. If a physical barrier is not practical, the scent of blood meal or Milorganite fertilizer may be a good alternative.
Keep weeds under control. Pull them when they are small and when the soil is soft after a rain.
Ornamental Garden
Deadhead spent blooms on perennials to encourage the plants to produce more flowers. This works with many perennials, but not all. Lilies, for example, will not re-bloom if deadheaded.
Daffodils may be divided this month once the foliage has died back. To avoid damaging the bulbs and their offsets, dig several inches away from the clump. Lift the clump of bulbs and gently twist them apart with your fingers.
To help trees and shrubs survive heat and drought conditions, water them deeply but infrequently, particularly during the first few growing seasons.
Take stem cuttings from shrubs and trees now to propagate new plants.
To protect bees and other beneficial insects from harm, avoid using pesticides until absolutely necessary. If you must, spray in the evening hours after bees have returned to their hives or nests.
Control mosquitoes by eliminating all sources of standing water. These include birdbaths, saucers under flower pots, drain pipes, and even playground equipment where standing water can remain in place for more than a few days.
Cut flowers for bouquets in the morning or late in the day when temperatures are coolest.
Because ephemeral plants die back and disappear early in the growing season, it’s easy to lose track of where they were planted. Mark the location of such plants with a stake or tag of some sort.
Edible Garden
In the absence of adequate rainfall, provide the vegetable garden with supplemental water about once a week during the growing season. An inch of water is generally sufficient for most vegetables. A drip irrigation method is an effective method for getting moisture to the roots of your crops. To prevent powdery mildew and other fungal problems on vegetables, avoid spraying water on the foliage.
For best taste, harvest cucumbers, summer squash, beans, peas, lettuce, and greens while they are small. Regular harvesting increases the yield of each plant.
Cucumbers and lettuces are crisper and taste better when harvested in the early morning.
Peas and corn taste sweetest when harvested late in the day when they contain the most sugar.
Stop cutting asparagus by mid- to late-June when the spears start to become thinner. At that point, broadcast a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, at the rate of 2 lbs. per 100 square feet. Allow the foliage to mature over the summer months and store nutrients for next year’s crop.
Inspect squash plants for signs of squash bugs, which can live for several months and may produce two generations per growing season. To reduce their populations, carefully check both sides of leaves for shiny, copper-color egg clusters and destroy them. The eggs can easily be removed by scraping them off the leaf with your fingernail.
Check cabbages, kale, broccoli, and other members of the cabbage (Brassica) family for cabbage loopers and imported worms. These little green worms eat large holes in the produce and leave behind messy frass, or excrement. The worms can be controlled by hand picking or sprayed with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), which is a natural, non-toxic preparation.
Lawn
Rather than bag grass clippings, allow them to fall back onto the lawn where they will decompose and provide nitrogen and other nutrients for the lawn.
If grass has grown particularly tall, break up any clumped grass clippings and scatter with a rake. Otherwise, the clumps will smother the grass beneath.
To avoid compacting soil and causing ruts in the lawn, vary mowing patterns rather than always mowing in the same direction.
