Things to Do in June
- ROOT CUTTINGS - Late June and July are the times
for
rooting semi-hardwood cuttings of your favorite shrubs. Cutting
should be hardened enough that the stem breaks when bent. If it
bends without breaking, it is too young to use.
- REMOVE FLOWER HEADS - As you make the rounds of
your
garden, clip away faded flowers. Many plants will stop blooming
once the plant begins to set seed. You can prolong the bloom
period of both annuals and perennials by "deadheading" the spent
flowers.
- BULBS need dividing every few years. Crowded bulbs
produce fewer flowers or may stop blooming. After foliage turns
brown, dig over-crowded Tulips, Dutch Iris, Narcissus, and other
hardy bulbs. Divide and replant bulbs immediately.
- SUMMER PRUNING - Major pruning of spring-flowering
shrubs
should be done immediately after bloom. Pruning these shrubs
after July 1st will decrease next year's flower production. All
shrubs may be pruned lightly to maintain shape or remove a few
long straggly shoots throughout the summer but not after August
1st.
- PRUNE CLIMBING ROSES after they bloom; fertilize at
that
time.
- WARM SEASON SOD REPLACEMENT - Now is the time to
replace
any warm season turf that has suffered disease or cold damage.
Sod can be purchased in rolls or square pieces. Cut the damaged
area out with a shovel and lay the new sod in the hole. Water
the sod heavily one time. Then keep the sod moist until the root
system takes hold and can support itself. ****Please recall that
this is not the time for seeding or sodding fescue. Wait till
the fall.
- WARM-SEASON
GRASSES such
as
Zoysia and Centipede are
sensitive to over-fertilization and have differing fertilizer
requirements. Bermuda is more tolerant. Call for a bulletin on
the type of grass you have.
- DOGWOOD
TREES - Dogwood
borer is a
serious threat in this
area and will shorten the life of dogwood trees. Inspect tree
trunks for split/peeling bark or small entry holes. The borer is
most active in June/early July. Control: spray the trunk amd
lower limbs of trees with Dursban, Thiodan or Lindane in June and
repeat the spray at least 2 times at 10-day intervals.
- BAGWORMS are relatively easy to control at this
time of
year on plants such as juniper, arborvitae and Leyland cypress.
Inspect susceptible plants for tiny worms and spray with BT
(Dipel), Sevin, diazinon, or acephate (Orthene). Later when the
worms are inside the bags, chemicals are relatively ineffective.
The only control then is hand-picking the bags.
- KEEP MITES UNDER CONTROL - Spider mites cause tiny
yellowish spots on leaves as they suck out the contents of the
plant tissue with their tiny, needlelike mouth parts.
Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps are moderately toxic to
spider mites. These pesticide materials have virtually no
residual activity so they must be applied 2-3 times for complete
control (about 5 days between sprays). Kelthane and Pyrethrins
may also be used.
- FOR BUSHIER PINES pinch back the new tip "candles".
- JAPANESE BEETLES hold their family reunion at your
house
in June/July. Hand-pick by holding a container of soapy water
under the branch and tapping the branch. The beetle's natural
instinct is to drop when disturbed from above. Or, you may spray
with Sevin, Acephate or Malathion. Spray late in the day when
bees are no longer active. Traps are NOT recommended. If you do
use them, put them as far away as possible from the plant you
want to protect, and be sure to empty them every 2 days.
- NOW'S THE TIME TO:
* Snap off growing tips of your Chrysanthemum plants when
they're about 6" tall. They'll branch and bloom more
profusely.
* Lightly feed Nandinas with 8-8-8 so the berries will last
through winter.
* Stake and tie brittle, new Clematis stalks. Prune after they
bloom.
* Stake Dahlias when you plant them so they'll have support later
and will not be damaged by staking after plants have grown
large.
* Start stem cuttings of Geraniums and leaf cuttings of
succulents to be potted for use as house plants this winter. Use
equal parts of peat moss and perlite as a medium.
* Mulch Azaleas, Gardenias and Camellias with 2-3" of
compost.
* Keep newly transplanted ornamentals or new Fescue well watered,
at least one inch per week.
Last revised April 7, 1998
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