In your Garden in June

Viewing your landscape this month you have a real feeling of satisfaction. The flowers are in full bloom, the grass is thick and green, vegetables and fruit trees are both producing and the weather has warmed up just enough to be enjoyable. Spend time in your yard. Relax and enjoy the fruits of your labors.

Color: For a quick-fix to your garden, add fast growing annuals like Petunias, Vinca, Marigolds and Zinnia. There is a plethora of color available right now to add interest to your flower beds and borders. Experiment and try something different. New varieties of Alyssum, Celosia, Coreopsis, Foxglove and Gazania are all great summer color. Plant those now. Also try Dianthus, Hollyhocks and Penstemon. For color in the shade, besides Impatiens and Begonias, try Coleus, Kalanchoe and Heuchera. Continue to pinch back faded blossoms.

Fruits & Vegetables: Summer vegetables such as squash, beans and tomatoes that are planted much after the first of the month, won't be in the ground long enough to give you a significant crop. Get them in right away. There's still time to plant beets, beans, melons, radishes, squash and heat tolerant lettuces. Plant the last patch of corn this month. Keep fruit and vegetables picked. Remove any fallen produce that may attract unwanted pests or encourage diseases that may spread to other parts of your landscape. Be sure to keep herbs pinched back.

Lawn: Lightly fertilize and be sure to mow on a weekly basis. As the summer heat increases, increase your watering schedule also. If you haven't raised the blade on your lawn mower, raise it now to about 2 - 2 1/2". It's also a good time to have the blade resharpened.

Roses & Flowers: With overcast days, watch roses for mildew and treat promptly. Also, spray with insecticidal soap or apply a systemic to control mites, thrips and aphids. Feed roses after each bloom cycle and deadhead to remove spent blooms. While you're at it, remove spent blooms on all your flowering plants to prolong the blooming season.

Irrigation: Test your sprinklers to make sure all heads and emitters are working properly. Adjust your sprinklers for longer days and the time change. Watch your landscape carefully. Extremely hot days may require an additional irrigation cycle. As always, avoid overhead irrigation late in the day. During the heat of the summer, it's a good practice to water deeply once a week to promote deep root growth. Keep in mind that drought-tolerant and native plants will only need infrequent, deep water until the rains return later in the year.

Also: With warm days and nights, it's the perfect time to plant tropicals such as plumeria, ginger and cannas.

If you haven't fertilized for a few months, do it now. Water. Fertilize. Water. It's best to fertilize the day after you irrigate. (Never fertilize a dry plant as this can cause the roots to burn.) After you fertilize, water everything in to activate the components in the fertilizer. Be sure to purchase the correct fertilizer for your needs and follow the manufacturer's directions carefully.

Mulch everything to keep weeds down and help retain moisture in the soil. Mulch up to the base of the plant but don't push mulch into the crown of the plant.

To add fragrance to your garden, plant gardenias, jasmine and lilacs.

Prune Wisteria to control its shape and growth.