June

Plant

• ​Plant annual flower seeds of quick growing annuals. Cosmos, marigolds and zinnias are perfect. 
• Last month to prune azaleas.
• Dead head peonies.
• Pinch mums and asters until early July.
• ​​Read about helpful native plants, plants for birds and pollinators, and invasive species. Plant natives, plants for pollinators and remove invasive species.

Light Pruning and Care for Houseplants

• Stake or provide support for tall growing perennials or those that tend to flop. 
• Keep weeding and mulching. 
• Remember to nurture your houseplants by keeping their foliage clean and watering when dry. 

Fertilize and Mulch

• Mulching beds improves soil texture and helps the bed retain moisture during dry spells. 
• Tip - if you want earthworms, mulch deeply.

Chores

• Remember to keep feeders and bird baths clean.
• Support tall lily stems to keep them upright and healthy. 
• Divide daffodils if they are large and had few blooms (usually every 4 years) - dig up the bulbs with a garden fork, remove the dirt in a pail of water or with a hose, dry bulbs in a mesh bag in a cool, dry place and plan to replant in October.
• Divide spring and early summer flowering perennials after the blooms fade. 
• ​Keep gardening tools clean and sharpened.  

Tips:  

•  To improve Rhodendron blooms for next year, remove old blooms by hand (taking care not to injure the new leaf shoots) 2 weeks after the flowers fade.
  
• Cutting rose blossoms above a 5 leaflet leaf will make it more likely that the stem will bear flowers than cutting from a 3 leaflet stem.
• Clean your tools when you finish with one plant and before you move to the next.  
• Wear gloves for all of your gardening and yard chores;  protect your skin from sun, dirt, bugs, and poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac and other plant toxins.  ​

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Thanks to Suzanne Aiello who compiled these tips for the Dolley Madison Garden Club.