Your June Garden Checklist from Avant Gardening & Landscaping
“In June, as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them.” – Aldo Leopold
Summer is finally here! Take advantage of every minute outside in the beautiful weather! Hopefully this list will keep you on pace with your garden chores, amidst the craziness that summertime brings. Do you have any graduation parties, garden tours, or wedding shenanigans planned this year?
1. Entertain Friends – Not Mosquitoes!
Consider planting natural mosquito-repelling plants and annuals around your outdoor living spaces where you will hang out the most. Some of these plants include: catmint (nepeta), lemon beebalm (monarda), ageratum, marigolds, scented geraniums. Many herbs: basil, lemon grass, lavender, rosemary, lemon mint. Also, minimize the amount of stagnant water you may have in empty pots, plant saucers, puddles, etc. Change birdbath water twice a week to keep it fresh for the birds and minimize larvae growth.
2. Enjoy June Blooms
Gardens should be bursting into bloom this time of year. If they aren’t planted in your garden already, some of our favorite June bloomers include: Globemaster Ornamental Onion (Allium giganteum ‘Globemaster’), Goat’s Beard (Aruncus dioicus), Bartzella Itoh Peony (Paeonia x ‘Bartzella’), Perennial Sages (Salvia ‘Eveline’ or ‘May Night’), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Sienna Sunset Tickseed (Coreopsis ‘Sienna Sunset’). If you have a few bare spots in your garden, try a new annual variety that catches your eye! We particularly love Angelonia, Nicotiana & Gomphrena. Or go bold and tropical with Bananas or Phormiums!
3. Install Some Edible Landscaping
There are many trees, shrubs and perennials that are typically used in landscaping for their ornamental qualities which are also enjoyable to eat! Juneberry or Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora) is a hidden gem of any landscape – the berries have a similar shape and taste to blueberries and are delicious fresh, in jams and jellies, or baked into pies, crisps, muffins, basically anywhere you would typically reach for the blueberries.
4. Keep an Eye Out for Pests & Diseases
Catching something quick can mean the difference between a completely defoliated plant and perfect blooms. What you have growing in your garden will likely determine the type of pests you will encounter.
If you find something weird or even just interesting (like the photo above) send it to:
UW Plant Disease Diagonstic Clinic
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