June Garden Tips

It’s getting hotter now, and all your hard work in the spring months is really making your garden thrive (or, if you didn’t get those tasks done, your garden is rebelling and you’ll see many issues that need to be addressed). If a drought occurs, try to remember to deeply water your trees every couple of weeks. Turn the hose on with a very slow drip, and place the hose under the canopy of the tree. Set your timer for 30 minutes. Repeat two more times in different areas of the drip-line.

THINGS TO PLANT

Flowers: Ajuga, Balsam, Wax Begonia, Blue Daze, Boltonia, Chocolate Plant, Chrysanthemum, Cockscomb, Copper Plant, Cosmos, Gomphrena, Hibiscus, Periwinkle, Portulaca, Purslane, Gloriosa Daisy, Salvia, Sedum, Aster (Stoke’s), Wishbone Flower (Torenia), and Zinnia. Flower

Seeds: Balsam, Blue Lace Flower, Castor Bean, Celosia, Cleome, Cockscomb, Coleus, Cosmos, Cypress Vine, Dahlia (Dwarf), Feverfew, Four-o-Clock, Blanket Flower (Gaillardia), Impatiens, Marigold, Moonflower, Morning Glory, Periwinkle, Portulaca, Sunflower, Tithonia, Torenia, Vinca, Zinnia.

Bulbs: Amaryllis, Canna, Crinum, Daylily, Ginger, Liriope, Monkey Grass, Rain Lily.

Veggies (all month): Malabar Spinach, Okra, Southern Pea, Sweet Potato, Peanut, Pumpkin. Start transplants indoors for fall Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplants.

tasks in the garden:

Fertilize: Fertilize annuals with 1 cup of balanced fertilizer per 100 sq. ft. Rich compost, manure tea and fish emulsion are some organic options. Yellowing leaves near the tip of plant shoots indicate a lack of iron. Check soil PH and treat with an iron supplement, if needed. Feed roses and young fruit trees with a nitrogen fertilizer. Feed established annuals and perennials with a high nitrogen/low phosphorus fertilizer such as 15-5-10, 8-2-4, or 9-1-1.

Water: Water all planted areas deeply but infrequently during dry periods. Water outdoor potted plants daily. Lawn Care: Mow every 5-7 days, leaving the clippings on the lawn. Raise mower setting to reduce stress to the turf in summer. Water during the cool period of early morning. Avoid weed killers now that temperatures are above 85 degrees.

Diseases/pests to look for: Watch for cinch bugs in the sunny areas of your lawn, especially near streets and driveways. Call the Travis County Agrilife Extension for recommended treatment. Webworms and other caterpillars can be treated with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). For scale insects, mealybugs and spidermites, use summer oil or horticultural oil.

Prune: Remove spent flowers from daisies, daylilies, cannas, and other summer flowers. Remove fruiting canes from blackberries after harvest. Tip prune new canes at 4’ to promote branching. Prune dead and damaged wood from trees and shrubs as needed. Cut geraniums back and place them in light shade. Do not prune trees at this time since the beetle that carries oak wilt is active now and may be attracted to any cuts you make.