“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”
— John Steinbeck
Though I have eagerly been awaiting warmer weather, it seems too much “sweetness” has suddenly descended on all our gardens. There have been some shocking daytime temperatures already in the 90s.
There are some sensible approaches I can follow this month to benefit my lawn and garden. This season, we may also need to protect against the higher-than-normal temperatures projected by the National Weather Service.
As far as the lawn goes, warmer temperatures will begin to slow its growth and it will need to be mowed less often. It will help to set the mower blade higher to 2 1/2 to 3 inches to keep the grass from turning brown, as well as to mow in a different direction each time to help the wear and tear on the turf.
The rationale behind mowing tall is interesting. It slows down the growth so the grass doesn’t have to replace as much foliage. Also, it doesn’t need as much water because it is shading the soil, which, in turn, prevents sunlight from reaching weed seeds in the soil so they will not sprout. The grass is less stressed, which leads to fewer pest and disease problems; it becomes more of a shelter to beneficial spiders and ants that feed on the pest insect eggs and larvae. And, one of the most hated local pests, the Japanese beetle, is discouraged from laying its eggs in the lawn, which can help control white grubs.
When mowing, it’s best to remove no more than one-third of the green growth at a time and leave the clippings where they fall. They will decompose and add plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to the lawn.
June also is a good time to check on shrubs. Shrubs are important because they define areas of the yard, screen views and act as a backdrop for flower beds.
Summer flowering shrubs such as hydrangea, rose of sharon or beautyberry can be planted now. It can also be beneficial to safely thin or move shrubs that are too close together, such as taking out every other one in a row of arborvitae.
I have a winged burning bush that is diseased and has been declining for a few years; I’ll take that out this month (it’s invasive, so I’m not brokenhearted). Spring blooming shrubs, such as rhododendron and lilac, can be pruned once they are done flowering; so can the fir, pieris, daphne and pine.
Trees are often forgotten because they are the Old Faithfuls of our plantings — predictable and long-serving. They need care, too.
If any trees were planted last year, it is time to remove support stakes because by now a tree’s root system should be able to support it. I mulch around trees (about 3 inches over the rooting area, not right against the trunk) protecting them from lawn mower and trimmer activities which could hurt roots and bark. It is also a good idea to avoid parking cars within several feet of branch canopies, if possible, because they will compact the soil and stress the roots.
It is not healthful to attach anything to a tree that would cause a major wound, like a birdhouse, child’s swing, clothesline or treehouse; these all inflict harm.
June is also a time to care for perennials. I plant any that I buy as soon as possible so that they do not dry out and become stressed. Plants that are grown from seed, as well as any plant divisions given as gardening gifts from friends, should be planted early this month, too. I mix in some organic matter (like mushroom compost) with the garden soil when these are put into the earth to give them a good start.
I like to make a record of plants that look good together, nursery information (who has the best plant selection and deals), weather trends, etc., in my gardening journal; this information will be invaluable in the future.
It’s fun to walk about the garden with a cup of coffee to take in the changes and enjoy the scenery, especially on a cool, dewy morning when all of nature is awakening.
And, since some weather forecasters predict varying degrees of drought for this summer, there are some practical steps that can be taken to alleviate the effects of very dry conditions. These steps are outlined in a Penn State publication, “How to Garden During Drought Conditions.” Here are the major ideas.
First, try to remove lawn grass from areas such as around trees. The idea is that grass needs more water than many plants because of its thick, shallow roots, so by removing it, those plants and the trees will benefit. Weeds also compete for water, so eliminate them.
Second, save rainwater for your plants from your roof. Investigate adding a rain barrel that, once installed, collects rainwater from a downspout. Rain barrels and all the necessary materials for hooking them up are available in many home improvement stores. I had one on my Bellefonte property that was used faithfully, and even in a drought there was some rain to capture.
I have also heard of using bath water or dish water (from the sink) to water plants, but, according to the publication, “in Pennsylvania we cannot use water that has been in contact with people to water our plants.” So this, obviously, is not recommended.
Mulching properly also helps conserve water, according to the publication, because it keeps soil temperatures cooler and holds more moisture in the ground. Two to 3 inches of mulch is recommended around trees and shrubs, 1 to 2 inches around flowers and vegetable plants. Roots need oxygen, so “mulch volcanoes” are discouraged.
Finally, it’s recommended to choose plants that are advertised for their ability to survive “high heat, high humidity, and low water conditions,” whether annuals or perennials. Some that foot the bill include:
■ Annuals — sunflower, blanket flower, marigold, petunia, verbena, morning glory, phlox, salvia and zinnia
■ Perennials — yarrow (Achillea species), New England aster (Aster novae-angliae), tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora), flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), statice (Limonium latofolium), serbian belleflower (Campanula poscharskyana), common yucca (Yucca filamentosa) and grass pink (Dianthus plumarius)
It is important to inquire and read labels when plant shopping to find others for this growing zone.
So, enjoy June in the garden. It’s a fabulous month for sitting back and enjoying the verdant beauty from all of that planning, digging, planting, mulching and fussing.
Things are beginning to come together in my yard. Mason bees are taking up residency in my new bee condo, chipmunks are romping, goldfinches are nesting, flowers are blooming and my newly installed (by my brother Kurt) water feature is merrily bubbling. What could be better?
