Flowers
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Deadhead annuals and perennials to encourage rebloom
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Watch for Japanese beetles and pick them off into soapy water in the early morning before they wake up
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Check for signs of disease or insect damage and treat accordingly
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Water container plants frequently as they dry out faster
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Continue to fertilize with manure tea, fish emulsion, or organic fertilizer
Garden
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Plant succession crops (like corn and beans) every 3 weeks to extend harvest
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Replant areas where cool crops (broccoli and cauliflower) are finished
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Plant pumpkin seeds now for Halloween
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Keep root crop tops (potatoes) covered with soil to keep their flavor
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Watch for mites, tomato horn worms, vine borer, and other pests
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If nematodes are a problem with tomatoes or potatoes, plant ‘Nemaguard’ marigolds to help get rid of them next year
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Provide support for tomato plants
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Raspberry roots are perennial and their stalks are biennial; prune stalks to 4 canes per root
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Harvest fruits and vegetables when ready
Lawn
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Keep grass longer to protect it from high heat and control crabgrass
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During extreme heat, conserve water by allowing the lawn to go dormant
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Pour boiling water on unwanted grass and weeds in driveways and sidewalks
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Rake away the slime mold “dog vomit fungus” that may appear in mulched areas following rainy periods – it is harmless
Trees/Shrubs
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Water newly planted shrubs and trees frequently and deeply until well established
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Implement insect and disease control on fruit trees
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Treat bagworms in mid-June (after hatching) with Bt
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Watch for fireblight on apple and pear trees – treat with dormant spray and cut out dead branches
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Watch for pine bark adelgid on white pines, and woolly alder aphid on silver maples – use a strong stream of water to dislodge
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Propagate softwood cuttings for new seedlings
Other Important Gardening Tips for June:
- Worms are your best aerators!
- Keep everything watered – 1” per week – supplement rain water if needed.
- Control weeds with mulch, cultivation, and / or hand-picking.
- Control pests with insecticidal soap or soapy water.
- Control mosquitoes by ensuring there is no standing water (gutters, plant dishes, etc.).
Visit the Loudoun County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg to see various gardens and new planting techniques.
Contact the Loudoun County Master Gardener Help Desk with your questions: 703-771-5150 or loudounmg@vt.edu
