Ask Annie- June Garden Checklist

We’ve made it to June: when the garden goes from promising to demanding. The solstice is upon us (the longest day of the year!) which your plants interpret as “grow as fast as possible and cause problems.”

Here is your June Garden Checklist:

Zone 4a: Early June may still feel spring-like; heat-loving plants need patience

Zone 4b: Full-speed growing season is underway

Zone 5a: Summer planting is safe; monitor moisture as heat increases

• Plant your heart away! This is a great time to wrap up early planting projects. Don't forget the Bio-Tone to encourage healthy root development and ease transplant shock!
• Avoid dividing Spring bloomers now — let them recharge
• Transplant on cool, cloudy days to reduce stress

• Top up mulch where it has thinned to retain moisture and suppress weeds
• Keep mulch pulled back from crowns and stems
• Check soil compaction after heavy spring rains

• Water deeply and less frequently to encourage strong roots
• Water early in the day to reduce disease
• Spot-check irrigation systems or hoses for leaks
• Side-dress (fertilize) heavy feeders if needed (looking at you, hydrangeas and roses)

• Continue staking tall or floppy perennials before they fall over
• Deadhead Spring bloomers to help tidy beds and redirect energy
• Cut back early perennials that are looking tired or floppy
• Pinch back late-blooming perennials to encourage bushier growth

• Weed early and often - don’t let them set deep roots
• Watch for aphids, beetles, and leaf damage
• Hose off pests before reaching for treatments
• Monitor for powdery mildew and improve air circulation to help prevent it
• Leave some seed heads and blooms for bees and beneficial insects
• Avoid pesticides, our pollinator friends' work is in full swing.
• Accept a little imperfection; a living garden isn’t a showroom!

• Take photos to track growth and bloom timing
• Note plants that need moving or dividing later in the season
• Identify summer gaps in color or texture. Check out our handy color guide here!
• Sit down. Seriously. Enjoy what you’ve grown!

And remember, gardening is never about perfection, it’s about curiosity, patience, and perserverance! I’m cheering you on as you try new things, learn from the missteps, and celebrate each little success. Until our next chat, happy gardening and keep growing!

-Annie

Have a perennial issue, mystery, or design dilemma? Annie can help!

Always approachable and happy to help!