Garden Calendar June Week 2

June Week 2

Ornamentals

• Plant tropical water lilies when water temperatures rise above 70 degrees.
• Apply a balanced rose fertilizer after the first show of blooms is past.
• Rhizomatous begonias are not just for shade. Many varieties, especially those with bronze foliage, do well in full sun if given plenty of water and a well-drained site.
• Most houseplants brought outside prefer a bright spot shaded from afternoon sun. Check soil moisture daily during hot weather.
• Apply organic mulches as the soil warms. These will conserve moisture, discourage weeds, and enrich the soil as they decay.
• Apply a second spray for borer control on hardwood trees.

Lawns

• Water turf as needed to prevent drought stress.
• Mow lawns frequently enough to remove no more than one-third the total height per mowing. There is no need to remove clippings unless excessive.
• Gradually increase the mowing height of zoysia lawns throughout the summer. By September, the mowing height should be 2 to 2.5 inches.
• Mow bluegrass at 2 to 3.5 inch height. Turfgrasses growing in shaded conditions should be mowed at the higher recommendations.
• Zoysia can be fertilized now while actively growing. Do not exceed 2-3 pounds of actual nitrogen fertilizer per l000 sq. ft. per year.

Vegetables

• Repeat plantings of corn and beans to extend the harvest season.
• Plant pumpkins now to have Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween.
• As soon as cucumber and squash vines start to ‘run,’ begin spray treatments to control cucumber beetles and squash vine borers.
• Set out transplants of Brussels sprouts started last month. These will mature for a fall harvest.
• Soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems make the most efficient use of water during dry times.
• To minimize diseases, water with overhead irrigation early enough in the day to allow the foliage to dry before nightfall.
• Start seedlings of broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. These will provide transplants for the fall garden.
• Stop harvesting asparagus when the spears become thin.
• Control corn earworms. Apply several drops of mineral oil every 3 to 7 days once silks appear. Sprays of Bt are also effective.
• To maximize top growth on asparagus, apply 2 pounds of 12-12-12 fertilizer per l00 sq. ft., water well and renew mulches to conserve moisture.

Fruits

• Renovate strawberries after harvest. Mow the rows; thin out excess plants; remove weeds; fertilize and apply a mulch for weed control.
• Summer fruiting raspberries are ripening now.
• Begin control for apple maggot flies. Red painted balls that have been coated with tanglefoot may be hung in apple trees to trap egg-laying females.
• Spray trunks of peach trees and other stone fruits for peach tree borers.

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