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Although June often ushers in a gentler garden, the kaleidoscopic colors of May might linger with us a bit longer. Spring temperatures see-sawed up and see-sawed down, but it finally feels like the weather has caught up to the calendar! Do try to be a little patient when evaluating viability of trees, shrubs and perennials that were planted last year though. Some woody perennials like Butterflybush, Caryopteris and Hardy Hibiscus are often slow to emerge and we wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t see signs of light until after Father’s Day.

Rainfall is below average as April and most of May has definitely been on the dry side. We can’t begin to predict what the season has in store for us weather-wise, so please remember to water as the mid-summer often ushers in hot, dry weather. And those June, July and August thunderstorms can be notoriously spotty. Pay attention to the conditions in your own landscape. If a period of dry weather sets in, any tree or shrub planted in the last two years will need its roots soaked once a week. Perennial and annual borders will benefit from watering as well. And it’s a good idea to root-water even established trees and shrubs. Drought conditions may weaken a plant’s ability to fight off disease and pests, and can affect winter hardiness.

June is Perennial Gardening Month, but don’t make the mistake of putting all your eggs into spring’s basket. June and July’s floral delights are also abundant. If your garden starts to lack some flower power, add Astilbe, Liatris, Daylilies and Coneflowers. You can continue to plant perennials, shrubs and trees all summer as long as you pay attention to watering needs. Anything newly planted will need some baby-sitting as the temperatures begin to soar.

You should finish up with the pruning of any spring-blooming shrubs as soon as this season’s blossoms start to fade. Trimming plants like Lilacs, Crabapples and Magnolias in the next week or two will allow flower buds to develop for spring 2024.  And you can start to trim your evergreens as soon as the new needles begin to darken, usually around the end of the month. Make a date with your pruning implements for the last two weekends in June to shear Yews, Boxwood, Arborvitae and Spruce. And now that they are fully leafed out, you can do some minor trimming of most shade trees. Oaks are an exception though. Open wounds can attract the insects that carry Oak Wilt, so do not prune them they defoliate in fall, usually in mid October.

Shear perennials and summer-flowering shrubs after their first flush of blossoms to encourage a second bloom. Coreopsis, Veronica and Salvia all respond beautifully to a good haircut. So do Spirea and Potentilla. You don’t have to prune stem by stem, unless you really want to. Grab a handful of stems and cut the whole bunch at once. They will quickly grow out and look natural. Shearing after blooming also keeps the plants from setting seed too early. This process takes a lot of energy and signals the start of dormancy in many species. For those perennials that re-seed a bit too vigorously, this is a must-do gardening chore, unless you relish weeding out unwanted seedlings later this summer.

And keep on weeding! Weeds can harbor insect pests like spider mites and white fly, as well as fungal diseases such as mildew. These are problems that can spread to many of your other plants. Weeds are also water hogs that steal moisture from your prized plants. Yes, we know that’s a lot to think about, but do just a little every few days and your garden will stay beautiful, and healthy, all season long.

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