June Gardening Calendar

Published: May 1, 2011

Ornamentals

• Week 1: Deadhead bulbs and spring flowering perennials as blossoms fade.
• Week 1: Early detection is essential for good control of vegetable pests. Learn to identify and distinguish between pests and beneficial predators.
• Week 1: Watch for bagworms feeding on many garden plants, but especially juniper and arborvitae.
• Week 1: Thin seedlings to proper spacings before plants crowd each other.
• Weeks 2-4: Plant tropical water lilies when water temperatures rise above 70 degrees.
• Weeks 2-3: When night temperatures stay above 50 degrees, bring houseplants outdoors for the summer.
• Weeks 2-3: Apply a balanced rose fertilizer after the first show of blooms is past.
• Weeks 2-3: 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.

Lawns

• Weeks 1-4: Water turf as needed to prevent drought stress.
• Weeks 1-4: 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.
• Weeks 1-4: Gradually increase the mowing height of zoysia lawns throughout the summer. By September, the mowing height should be 2 to 2.5 inches.

Vegetables

• Weeks 1-2: Plant pumpkins now to have Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween.
• Weeks 1-2: As soon as cucumber and squash vines start to 'run,' begin spray treatments to control cucumber beetles and squash vine borers.
• Weeks 2-4: Set out transplants of Brussels sprouts started last month. These will mature for a fall harvest.
• Weeks 2-4: To minimize diseases, water with overhead irrigation early enough in the day to allow the foliage to dry before nightfall.
• Weeks 2-3: Start seedlings of broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. These will provide transplants for the fall garden.
• Weeks 3-4: Control corn earworms. Apply several drops of mineral oil every 3 to 7 days once silks appear. Sprays of B.T. are also effective.

Fruits

• Week 1: Oriental fruit moths emerge. Most serious on peaches where first generation attacks growing tips. Shoots will wilt. These should be pruned out.
• Week 1: Thinning overloaded fruit trees will result in larger and healthier fruits at harvest time. Thinned fruits should be a hands-width apart.
• Week 1: Enjoy the strawberry harvest.
• Week 2-3: Renovate strawberries after harvest. Mow the rows; thin out excess plants; remove weeds; fertilize and apply a mulch for weed control.

Miscellaneous

• Weeks 3-4: When using any gas powered equipment, be sure to allow the engine a few minutes to cool before refilling empty fuel tanks.
• Weeks 3-4: A mailbox mounted on a nearby post makes a handy place to store and keep dry any small tools, seeds, labels, etc. frequently used in the garden.

Gardening Calendar supplied by the staff of the William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening located at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri. (www.GardeningHelp.org)