By Stacy Kershaw
This is by far my favorite time of the year. The drenching rains are gone, the sun is shining, plants are bursting with new blooms, and the birds and bees are buzzing around happily. I’m actually sitting on my deck as I write this. Warm weather is so fleeting in New England, I hate to waste a second of it!
With so many beautiful things going on it’s hard to think about actually working in the garden! But there are a few essential things to do before the weather gets too hot.
Plant and Divide
June is a good time to plant flowers, trees, and shrubs. It’s also an ideal time to divide perennials like hosta, phlox, daylilies, and ornamental grasses. Be sure to water new plantings several times a week and mulch the ground around them to keep moisture in and weeds out.
Prune
Roses and hydrangeas are starting to get their flower buds. Deadhead old blooms now and prune dead branches. Plants that have already bloomed like azalea, lilac, rhododendron, and wisteria should not be pruned until after their blooms are finished.
Weed Control
My least favorite thing to do. But pluck those pesky beasts now and it will you save you time and headaches down the road. Be sure to pull them out from the root. Lay down 2-3 inches of mulch to suppress them from returning. Better yet, plant some naturalizing ground cover, like vinca vine or thyme to crowd them out!
And finally, don’t forget to sit, relax, and enjoy your garden while the weather lasts!
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