12 Gardening Tips For June You Shouldn’t Ignore

June in the garden is like the advance for summertime ’s grand symphony — everything is cranking into high gear ! As a nurseryman who ’s thirstily expect that first ardent week , I know how thrilling it is to see seedling sprout , blossom burst into bloom , and the hope of fresh produce beckoning . But June also brings its own bent of hurdling : prove temperatures , relentless pot , and the chance for pest to run over tender new growth . Last June , I commemorate rushing to protect my kale crop from an unexpected aphid invasion — so trust me , you ’re not alone if it feels like you ’re scantily keep on up . In this clause , I ’ll share 12 crucial tips to help you remain forwards of the bend and keep your garden expand all calendar month long .

Each lead below offer thorough counsel , diving into everything from selecting the right mulch to nurturing good insects that police for gadfly . Wherever possible , I ’ll talk about which plants or textile are native versus potentially invasive , and highlight behaviors — like nesting or pollenation — that can make or weaken your succeeder . mean of me as your gardening buddy , eager to share the noesis I ’ve picked up ( and mistake I ’ve learned from ! ) over many Junes . So grab your favorite horticulture gloves , and get ’s get get — there ’s no time to waste when June ’s garden is yell !

Divide And Transplant Perennials

Dividing and transplant perennials in June can rejuvenate overgrown lump and free up space for Modern planting . Many perennials , such as Echinacea purpurea ( purplish coneflower ) and Rudbeckia fulgida ( smutty - eyed Susan ) , are native to North America and spread via rhizome . split up them every few years forestall overcrowding and maintains vigour . I remember last June , dig up a massive hosta clump — though Funka are native to Asia and can become incursive if left unbridled — and carve up it into minor section . Each division had sizable ascendant and shoot , ensuring a quick re - establishment in invigorated soil .

When you graft , guarantee each division has several sizable shoots and a racy rootage system of rules . Replant immediately at the same depth as before , spacing divisions grant to their mature size . After planting , water good to settle soil around roots , then mulch to retain moisture . Using native mulch , like shredded oak leaves , can support background - dwelling insect such as dry land beetle and spiders that hunt slugs and snails . Just be aware not to bring out trespassing species via mulch ; avoid straw or hay source from theatre of operations with noxious locoweed seminal fluid . By split and moving perennials in June , you ’re give way them the good prospect to launch before summer heat intensifies .

Mulch To Retain Moisture And Suppress Weeds

Applying a 2 to 3 - in layer of organic mulch in June is like giving your garden a refreshing spa treatment . When soil begin to heat up up , mulch help keep roots coolheaded and conserves water , reducing the penury for frequent watering . I bang using shredded hardwood bark , which easy break down to enrich the ground without harboring gage ejaculate . Spread mulch around plants — leaving a small gap around each stem so wet does n’t gather up and ask over rot — and look out how your tomato and Madagascar pepper thrive , even during mid - June heat waves .

sure mulches also benefit beneficial insects . For illustration , leaves from native oaks and maples break down into crumbly humus that supports solid ground - beetle larva , lacewing , and lonely bee that snuggle just below the soil surface . If you apply straw , assure it ’s weed - gratuitous — hay often has grass seeded player that sprout undesirable military volunteer . Avoid semisynthetic landscape painting fabrics that block flow of air and make heat traps . By choosing a natural mulch and hold it in June , you ’re conserving moisture , suppressing weeds , and encouraging a miniskirt - ecosystem of helpful predators that patrol for pests .

Plant Heat-Loving Vegetables

June is prime prison term to plant veggies that sleep together warmth — think okra , sweet-scented tater , and southern pea . Okra , aboriginal to West Africa , thrives when direct - sown once soil temperature outstrip 65 ° F . I sow seed a full in deep , spacing them 12 inch apart , and within two weeks , I ’m greeted by sturdy seedlings . These plant attract native bee and hummingbirds to their vibrant hibiscus - like flower , turning a simple vegetable bottom into a buzzing wildlife spectacle . verify to take spend pods to prevent Tennessean seedling that could pop up next year .

Sweet potato slipperiness , originating from Central and South America , do best when planted into mounded row in well - draining grime . Their trail vines shade the undercoat , suppressing weeds and providing shelter for earth mallet that hunt poke . Keep an eye on the dirt ; these beginning dislike waterlogged conditions . By October , you ’ll be harvesting golden - fleshed beginning , rewarding you for a June planting . southerly pea , like smuggled - eyed pea ( also from West Africa ) , necessitate minimal tutelage . Their small blanched blooms attract humblebee and butterfly , and the vines ply cover for beneficial parasitic WASP . When June planting succeeds , you ’ll have a bounteous crop before freeze .

Support Beneficial Pollinators And Nesting Areas

Creating nesting area for native pollinator in June enhance fruit coiffure and keeps pestilence populations in check . Leaving a belittled speckle of bare , arenaceous filth bear out land - nest bee such as digger bees and Colletes species . Last June , I noticed disguise bee busily excavate burrow beneath a bed of monarda parting — Monarda fistulosa is aboriginal to North America and bustles with natural action . By mid - morning , these bees were off call nearby hemangioma simplex and cucumbers , greatly amend pollenation .

In improver to plain ground , cater small copse piles or deadwood in a turning point of the garden ask round predatory insects , spiders , and ground beetles that hunt slugs , caterpillar , and aphids . These good vulture are crucial in June ’s high insect action . Just be certain any Sir Henry Joseph Wood you use is source locally to avoid present invasive beetle like the emerald ash borer . Maintaining diverse habitats — some clear ground , some sheltered areas — encourages a balanced ecosystem . When predatory insects nest close by , you ’ll find far fewer pests manducate on your prized vegetables and inflorescence flora .

Scout For Pests Daily

Daily pestilence scouting in June can preclude small-scale problems from becoming catastrophic . I still recall finding tomato hornworm eggs on my heirloom plants last June — catch them betimes meant handpicking Caterpillar before they grow into destructive monsters . contain the undersides of leaves for aphid clusters and look for the shiny egg of Japanese beetles on rose wine and edible bean . Early spying permit you to intervene with minimum campaign — whether by squishing , spray with constitutional soap , or using rowing masking .

Integrating companion plants that attract beneficial vulture helps keep plague in impediment . For instance , yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) , native to many part , draw parasitic wasp that dwell eggs inside caterpillar and aphids . I have a humble patch of yarrow near my vegetable garden , and every June , I see wasps police for hosts . Just be cautious with certain ornamental : butterfly bush ( Buddleja davidii ) pull out butterflies but can be invading in some areas . If you do plant it , opt unfertile cultivars and deadhead spend blush . Vigilance in June ensures that pest issues are nipped in the bud , so your plants remain healthy and resilient .

Water Wisely To Prevent Stress

In June , watering wisely is crucial because rising temperature can stress plants quickly . or else of calorie-free , frequent sprinkles that encourage shallow roots , aspire for deep , deliberate waterings — about 1 to 1.5 inches per week — to raise strong theme organization . I use a rainfall standard of measurement to cross rude rainfall and supplement as needed . lachrymation too soon in the morning gives plants time to absorb wet before twelve noon heat , melt off evaporation . I once watered in the late afternoon and watched droplets melt before reaching the soil — lesson learned !

Utilizing drip irrigation or boozer hose in June boil down foliage wetness and minimizes fungal consequence , particularly on tomatoes and cucurbits . pull in rainwater in barrel also helps control you ’re not deliver chlorinated pat water , which can disrupt soil microbes . When I let tap urine sit overnight in overt container , Cl dissipates , making it aristocratic on my rose bushes and simoleons bed . Just be aware : non - native moisture - be intimate plants like bamboo can run amuck if overwatered . By tailoring your watering routine in June , you ’ll keep works vigorous without encouraging invasive species or create stipulation good for fungous outbreaks .

Monitor Soil Health And Amend As Needed

good for you soil is the lifeblood of a palmy garden , and June is an splendid prison term to evaluate its stipulation . Dig a little hollow beside a bed to 6–8 inches deep — if the land is pack or poorly debilitate , it ’s fourth dimension to improve . I often mix in aged compost or coconut coir to improve construction and moisture retentiveness . Last June , my tomato plant struggled in heavy mud , so I added coarse sand and compost ; within week , they sprang back to life story , producing abundant blooms and fruit .

Testing dirt pH in June help you address imbalance before they stunt growth . Blueberries , for example , love acidulent ground ( pH 4.5–5.5 ) , whereas common beet and lettuce favor around pH 6.5 . A simple test outfit can reveal nitrogen , phosphorus , and K level , steer your midseason amendment . If atomic number 7 is down , a light sidedressing of compost or elderly manure ( sourced from a reputable local farm to forefend encroaching dope seeds ) can give hungry plants a boost . Conversely , if pH is off , summate unslaked lime ( to raise pH ) or elemental sulphur ( to lower it ) can correct deficiencies . By keep an eye on soil wellness in June , you set the degree for vigorous emergence through summer .

Weed Relentlessly To Reduce Competition

June skunk germinate apace , and if you let them thrive , they ’ll steal water and food from your prized plants . I think back first planting a novel raised seam , only to see mouse-ear chickweed blanket the soil within a week — talk about frustrating ! To stay forward , weed early in the morning or late afternoon when grease is still more or less damp ; it make pulling roots easy . hoe between rows nips seedlings before they plant deep roots .

Using encompass crop and groundcovers between vegetable rows can dramatically reduce weed pressure . Planting white Dutch trefoil — native to Europe but well - adapted to many region — help prepare nitrogen and suppress weeds with its dull foliage . However , some clover pass around sharply , so monitor and pull runners if they threaten to crowd out nearby layer . When you pair wakeful weed with strategical groundcovers , your garden halt cultivate rather than overproduction , giving your crop the resources they need to fly high in June ’s rapid growth season .

Deadhead To Encourage Continued Blooms

Deadheading spent flowers is a simple job with big bribe . When you remove faded blossoms from yearly like petunia , perennials like Echinacea purpurea ( purple coneflower ) , or non - aboriginal impatiens ( which can ego - seminal fluid prolifically in shady areas ) , you ’re say the works to focus Energy Department on producing raw blooms rather than place seed . I discover it so satisfying to walk through the garden each break of day , pinching off timeworn flower petal — it ’s almost contemplative ! Plus , deadheading reduce disease risk by removing decaying petals that can nurse fungal spore .

Some works dish out two-fold duty when leave to cum later in the time of year : for case , black - eyed Susans ( Rudbeckia fulgida ) hold seedheads that feed goldfinches in winter . But in June , you want nonstop color . For non - native impatiens , deadheading prevents little seedling from popping up in your hosta beds . Just be thorough — expect under folio and watch every stem , because missing a few pods can lead to unwanted volunteers . By staying persevering with deadheading in June , you keep your garden vibrant and balanced , delighting both human and pollinator visitors .

Fertilize Established Plants Carefully

By mid - June , established perennial , annual , and veg can do good from a easy alimental boost . If you applied a slow - release organic fertilizer or plenteous compost in saltation , you might only need a light sidedressing now . I wish work compost around the drip parentage of Lycopersicon esculentum plants , which recharges the soil without risking a nitrogen suntan . One year , I overdo it with a celluloid plant food and cease up with floppy , exuberant foliage on my lupine — few flowers resulted ! Moderation is key .

Choose amendment origin that wo n’t introduce invasive mintage . Well - aged manure from a local , trusted farm can add nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium without weed semen . obviate smart manure rich in salinity or semisynthetic chemical substance that harm ground microbe . For perennial like rose , a balanced organic granular fertilizer applied in former June can patronage new blooms without encouraging spindly development . When you fecundate responsibly this calendar month , your garden increase vigour and resilience without the black eye of overfertilization .

Support Beneficial Nesting Areas

Providing nesting spots for good insects transforms your garden into a self - regulating ecosystem . In June , sole bee such as mason bee ( Osmia spp . ) come out and look for sites to lay bollock . Leaving small patches of bare , sandy dirt near flowering plants like Monarda fistulosa ( native bee balm ) allows these pollinator to prod burrows and raise the next generation . I ’ve follow mask bees populate a gay plot of ground last June , then observed increase pollenation in nearby strawberry and pea — a rewarding sight !

Creating brush piles or leaving pocket-size logs in a quiet corner invites predatory insects like ground beetle and spiders to take up residence . These beneficial predators police for slug , cutworms , and aphid , reducing pest pressure . Just be sure any Ellen Price Wood or brush you use is n’t infested with invasive pests — bribe local firewood or meet fifth wheel from your own thou . By fostering nesting habitats , you ’ll see fewer pestis on your tomatoes and cucumber , and more pollinators see your summer blooms — making June ’s garden a buzzing , balanced harbour .

Support Tall Bloomers To Prevent Flopping

magniloquent blooper like lupine ( Lupinus polyphyllus ) and delphiniums add spectacular vertical interest , but without support they can fall through over , shading lower works and risking stem breakage . In other June , once stems reach six inches , set up stakes or John Cage to manoeuver their upward growth . I recollect a June when heavy pelting sent my delphiniums sprawling — if only I ’d placed bamboo stakes preferably ! Supporting these plants raise air circulation , reducing fungous issue in humid conditions .

Many grandiloquent perennials — like Lupinus , native to North America — also process as pollinator magnets , draw bees to their colorful spires . However , some non - aboriginal , such as Verbena bonariensis cultivar , can self - seed aggressively and become encroaching in warmer regions . If you do plant them , deadhead spend blossom before seed formation to stop volunteer . right supported , these magniloquent bloomers make a canopy where good insects such as parasitic wasps and predatory lacewings perch , keeping pests like aphids in check . By staking early in June , your garden retains its structure , and pollinator activity flourishes unhampered .