Summer

May

What Can I Do?

  • Plant Warm-Season Crops: After April 30 (or when soil hits 60°F), sow beans, corn, squash, and cucumbers. Transplant tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.

  • Fertilize: Feed spring perennials and new plantings.

  • Weed: Stay ahead of crabgrass with mulch or pre-emergents.

What’s in Bloom?

  • Azaleas: Peak color in pinks, oranges, and whites.

  • Irises: Bearded varieties bloom mid-to-late month.

  • Peonies: Lush, fragrant flowers.

  • Clematis: Vines start their show.

Any Additional Tips?

  • Watering: As temperatures rise, ensure consistent watering.

  • Mulch: Use mulch around plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

  • Pest Watch: Keep an eye out for early pests like aphids, slugs, and beetles that become active with warmer temperatures.

June - July

What Can I Do?

  • Succession Sow: Plant more beans and greens in June for extended harvest.

  • Watering: Provide 1” of water weekly, more in heatwaves.

  • Pest Management: Check for aphids and slugs; use neem oil or traps to control infestations.

  • Harvest: Enjoy harvests of peas, zucchini, and tomatoes in July. Keep harvesting regularly to encourage more production.

  • Fall Prep: Start seeds indoors in late July for fall crops like broccoli, cabbage, and kale.

  • Prune: Pinch back tall perennials in July for compact growth.

What’s in Bloom?

June:

  • Roses: Full bloom season.

  • Daylilies: Early types kick off.

  • Lavender: Purple spikes scent the air.

  • Hydrangeas: Big blooms begin (blue in acidic soil, pink in alkaline)..

July:

  • Black-Eyed Susans: Bright yellow daisies everywhere.

  • Coneflowers: Purple-pink magnets for pollinators.

  • Zinnias: Bold annuals thrive in heat.

  • Sunflowers: Early varieties stand tall.

Any Additional Tips?

  • Mulch: Apply mulch around plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature during hot spells.

  • Deadheading: Remove spent blooms regularly to encourage new flowers.

  • Soil Health: Continue adding compost or organic matter to your garden to replenish nutrients.

August

What Can I Do?

  • Transplant Fall Crops: Move broccoli and kale outside by mid-month.

  • Sow Greens: Plant spinach and lettuce for fall.

  • Deadhead: Extend blooms on annuals and perennials.

What’s in Bloom?

  • Hibiscus: Showy flowers in late summer.

  • Phlox: Fragrant clusters in full swing.

  • Goldenrod: Yellow plumes (great for bees).