A message to gardeners: As I garden in USDA Hardiness Zone 6, the Timely Tips for each month are prepared with my gardening tasks in mind. Adjust the timing to fit your area/zone.

[June/July 2008]


1. Direct seed cucurbits (squash, melons, and cucumbers) into garden after the soil temperature has reached at least 50 degrees F. Warm soil speeds germination and encourages better establishment of the root system. Even in late spring, it does pay to use a soil thermometer to check the soil temperature before planting seeds of Cucurbits.

2. Prune spring-flowering plants such as rhododendron, azalea and laurel immediately after the flower petals fade and begin to drop. Do not allow seed production to commence as seed formation robs the plant of needed energy for new growth and flower bud production for next year. Light pruning right after bloom will remove seed pod production and reduce potential leggy growth.

3. Check houseplants growing in southern windows. Move the plants or provide light shade as the days get longer and the sun rises higher in the sky. As the sunlight intensity gets stronger, it may burn foliage.

4. Become water-wise. Avoid the use of overhead irrigation watering systems in the flower or vegetable garden. Use drip irrigation. Lay out irrigation lines BEFORE setting out transplants.

5. Prune hybrid-tea roses back to at least the first five-leaflet set after the first bloom. Failure to prune allows new growth to sprout from the node located at the top set of leaves (three-leaflet set) producing a blind shoot (a shoot without a bloom).

6. Get ready. Enjoy Independence Day, the 4th of July. Take the day off from garden tasks and join in on your community’s celebration of our Nation's Birthday.

7. Don't trust Mother Nature to water new transplants. Continue watering spring planted trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals as needed. Do NOT waste water. Be water wise and water only when needed.

8. Continue applications of fruit tree sprays for insects, mites and fungi according to the label directions. Read the label. Take care to follow the "Days to harvest" caution on the label when applying pesticides to edible crops.

9. Divide and replant overgrown iris rhizomes clumps after mid-July. I divide my rhizomatous iris ever three to four years.

10. To encourage continued bloom of summer flowering annuals like petunias, marigolds and zinnias, pinch off spent blossoms before seed formation. Deadheading directs energy back into new flower production instead of making seeds.

11. Houseplants that are outside on their summer vacation should be checked for problems such as mealybugs, spider mites, whitefly, and scale insects.

Mealybugs show as cottony blobs on the underside of the leaves as well as the stems of the plant.

Spider mites appear as microscopic grains of sand, almost dust like, sprinkled over very fine webbing on new growth.

And scale insects appear as little bumps on the bottom sides of the leaves (usually along the veins), on the petioles, and on the stems. Scale can be flicked off with your finger nail, without leaving a hole in the leaf, petiole or stem.

If pests are found on houseplants, practice sanitation. Give the infested plant a bath with soapy water followed by a rinse of clear water to wash off the soapy residue. If necessary, apply a pesticide according to the label directions.

12. Check lawn mower blades for sharpness. A dull mower blade will shred the tips of the grass blades instead of making a clean cut. Disconnect the spark plug and unplug electric units before checking blades. And of course, read and follow the owner’s manual when replacing dull or broken blades.

13. Gather garden and wild flowers (check conservation lists for protected species) for drying for use in dried flower arrangements.

14. If you live and garden in an area where Japanese beetles predominate, set out traps for adult Japanese beetles by early June to catch both the male and female adult before she lays fertilized eggs for the summer crop of grubs. Apply Japanese beetle grub controls according to the label directions if adult beetles have been observed in the landscape, lawn and garden.

15. Make the final pinch on hardy garden mums by mid-July for October/November bloomers and by early July for August/September bloomers. The severity of the pinch depends on the leggyness of the plant at the time of pinching.

16. Feed container plants according to the label directions with a water-soluble plant food such as 24-8-16 or equivalent. Remember, plants growing in containers depend on you for water and nutrition.

17. Dark colored containers setting on the patio in direct sun absorb heat from the patio and sun's rays. This heat causes quicker drying of the soil and over heating of the root system. Shade the pots if necessary.

18. Container roses and other patio plants benefit from the use of mulch on the soil surface just as we use in the garden. A one inch layer of mulch such as pine bark mini-nuggets, cocoa hulls, or peanut shells will reduce evaporation of precious moisture and reduce watering frequency.

19. Continue weekly scouting of landscape plants for pest problems. Watch for aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, and scale.

20. Remember the #1 Rule of the Garden Hotline®. read the label and follow the manufacturer's recommended rates and directions.