Gardening Guides
Rocky Mountain Gardener: What to Do in June
Join the edible-garden club, deadhead spring-blooming plants around the landscape and make sure to fit in an inspiring garden tour
June reigns as queen in the garden world. Even at higher elevations, winter has loosened its icy grip, and the lush greens of new foliage shimmer in the sun’s warmth. Add the jewellike sparkle of abundant flowers and June is, indeed, a month to behold. This is a busy time in the garden, with plenty of options to keep you active and involved before the heat of summer arrives. The key is setting your goals and prioritizing your time so you don’t run yourself ragged. Summertime should be fun time, right?
Plant edibles. Growing delicious foods and seasonings for your table is one of the most rewarding aspects of gardening. If one of your goals this month is to get on the grow-your-own bandwagon, then remember to prioritize your planting schedule to accommodate the time-sensitive needs of your favorite plants; many depend on a specific number of days from planting until they are mature enough to harvest.
Setting out small plants rather than starting from seeds is a good way to jump-start the process. Once the last frost date has passed and the soil has warmed, you can safely plant warm-season crops, like cucumbers, summer squash, pumpkins, beans, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes and corn. Keep a lightweight freeze blanket handy and cover plants when nighttime temperatures are forecast to dip below 55 degrees.
Mix it up. Herbs and veggies integrate nicely with ornamental plants in mixed borders. Artichoke, Swiss chard, Tuscan kale, curl-leaf parsley, culinary sage, red cabbage and dill are just a few examples of summer hardy edibles with beautiful texture and color.
Plant them in well-amended soil in areas that receive regular watering — I tuck mine into small spaces that border the edge of the lawn, where they are easy to monitor and harvest.
Check with your county extension service for up-to-date information and plant recommendations for your specific location.
Check with your county extension service for up-to-date information and plant recommendations for your specific location.
Plant annuals and perennials. Flowers offer much to entertain: color, form, texture and fragrance. As a food source they attract butterflies, birds and myriad other winged creatures. If your goal is to add some flower power to your garden, then now is an ideal time to visit your local garden center for the best selection. Container gardens can be a great way to bring the beauty of plants to the location where they’re most needed. Try adding a cluster of colorful pots to a location that’s difficult to garden in, such as an area with shallow, rocky soil or dense tree roots.
Plant shrubs and trees. Shrubs and trees are the permanent features in your landscape, the plants that create rooms and mitigate harsh environmental factors like wind and sun. They add color and texture to the garden even during the long months of winter.
If your goal is to add some structure to your garden, then June is an ideal time to invest in woody plants, particularly broadleaf evergreens. Early summer planting gives them a good start on developing new root growth and becoming established before winter. Oregon grape holly (Mahonia aquifolium), Chidftan manzanita (Arctostaphylos x coloradensis 'Chieftan'), Bright Edge yucca (Yucca flaccida 'Bright Edge') and Coral Beauty cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri 'Coral Beauty') are rated for elevations up to 7,500 feet.
Shop for success. The best selection of all garden plants is now available at your local garden center. Sometimes so many choices can be overwhelming. Keep these factors in mind:
- Match the growing conditions of your site — sunlight, soil type and water availability — to the cultural needs of the plant. For example, a plant that needs a moist, shady setting will not survive in a hot, sunny “hell strip.”
- Match the size of your garden space to the ultimate size of the plant. Spacing plants appropriately allows the natural form of the plant develop to its full potential.
- Select new plants that will make an aesthetic contribution to your garden. Is your garden lacking in bold foliage textures or needing a shot of red? Add those attributes to your checklist.
Primp. Remove the spent flowers from spring-blooming plants. Deadheading the plant will not only make it look better, but it will keep it from forming seed. Your plants’ energy will be better spent on developing healthy foliage and root systems. Some plants will also form another set of flower buds and bloom once again. Deadhead by snipping the flower and a bit of the stem off; make your cut just above a leaf node.
For perennials that bloom on stalks or scapes that come out of a foliage mass at ground level, such as lilies (Lilium spp.) or bearded iris (Iris germanica), cut the stems all the way down to the base of the plant. For the masses of blossoms on perennials such as candytuft (Iberis sempervirens), purple rock cress (Aubrieta deltoides) and basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis), it's best to shear the entire plant down by about half.
Mulch. In June, as the soil warms and your plants are actively growing, it's a good time to make sure that you have a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch throughout your planting beds. Mulch will help conserve moisture, stabilize temperatures, reduce soil erosion, reduce soil compaction and prevent weed growth. Local organic materials such as pine needles, pine bark, shredded cedar and aspen chips are ideal for this purpose. An inorganic mulch of river rock or crushed stone may be preferable in areas where high winds or forest fires are a threat.
Mulch. In June, as the soil warms and your plants are actively growing, it's a good time to make sure that you have a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch throughout your planting beds. Mulch will help conserve moisture, stabilize temperatures, reduce soil erosion, reduce soil compaction and prevent weed growth. Local organic materials such as pine needles, pine bark, shredded cedar and aspen chips are ideal for this purpose. An inorganic mulch of river rock or crushed stone may be preferable in areas where high winds or forest fires are a threat.
Visit. June is the month for garden tours. There’s no better way to get inspired by great design, discover new plants or furnishings or just reinvigorate your love of gardening than by attending a garden tour.
Some tours focus on landscapes that have been masterfully designed and installed by landscape professionals; others revel in the personal creativity of devoted amateurs.
Garden tours are often fund raising events with the profits benefiting a community organization. Nationally, the Garden Conservancy sponsors open days throughout the summer at some of their properties across the United States.
Happy gardening!
Some tours focus on landscapes that have been masterfully designed and installed by landscape professionals; others revel in the personal creativity of devoted amateurs.
Garden tours are often fund raising events with the profits benefiting a community organization. Nationally, the Garden Conservancy sponsors open days throughout the summer at some of their properties across the United States.
Happy gardening!