Emily's Gardening Almanac Timely Tips from a Professional Gardening Expert

June Gardening Tips

• Mid-June is the one time of the year to apply nitrogen to centipede. Fertilize with ½ pound of nitrogen per 1000 sq. feet

• Mow centipede at a height of 1 inch. Mow before grass gets above 1 ½ inches tall.

• Apply 1 inch of water once a week to established turf. In sandy soils, apply ½ inch of water every 3-4 days.

• Do not plant trees and shrubs now unless you can water regularly and carefully. It would be better to plan now and plant in the fall.

• Inspect plants carefully for pests. Be sure to look on the undersides of leaves.

• Keep fruit trees sprayed with a home orchard spray to control diseases.

• You can apply a fertilizer to your vegetables as needed. Be careful not to apply too much nitrogen to vegetables.

• Apply a slow release fertilizer to your annuals.

• Make sure your plants have a layer of mulch to hold in moisture and discourage weeds. Do not apply mulch next to the stem or trunk of the plant.

• Use a soaker hose to water annuals, perennials, and vegetables. This will allow more water to the roots and less possibility of disease and loss to evaporation.

• Remove spent flowers and dead and dying leaves from annuals and perennials. Keep plants clean to reduce chance of infection.

• Be careful not to damage the bark of trees with the lawn mower or weed trimmer. It is best to have a layer of mulch around base of tree.

• Do not have mulch up to the trunk of the tree. You should never have more than a 3-4 inch layer of mulch around your plants.

Visit the following web site for more gardening information and helpful tips:

Extension's Successful Gardener^sm

For informaton concerning this or other publications please contact Emily Lucas Revels, Extension Agent, Horticulture, at (910) 321-6870.

Created by Susan Johnson, System Administrator, July 2005