June in the Garden

Early June Gardening To-Do List for Central North Carolina

1. Mulch planting beds
   Apply 2–3 inches of mulch around flowers, shrubs, and vegetables to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
2. Plant heat-loving vegetables
   Continue planting tomatoes, peppers, okra, cucumbers, squash, sweet potatoes, and southern peas.
3. Feed annual flowers
   Fertilize petunias, zinnias, lantana, and other summer bloomers to keep flowers coming all season.
   
4. Deadhead spent blooms
   Remove faded flowers from roses, salvias, coreopsis, and other perennials to encourage reblooming.
5. Monitor watering needs
   Water deeply and less frequently, aiming for about 1 inch of water per week from rainfall or irrigation.
6. Scout for pests early
   Watch for Japanese beetles, aphids, spider mites, squash vine borers, and tomato hornworms before populations explode.
7. Harvest regularly
   Pick lettuce, herbs, beans, cucumbers, and other vegetables often to maintain production.
8. Prune spring-flowering shrubs
   Prune azaleas, forsythia, and other spring bloomers soon after flowering if shaping is needed.
9. Support tall plants
   Stake tomatoes, sunflowers, dahlias, and other vigorous growers before summer storms arrive.
   
   10. Plant for pollinators
    Add zinnias, native phlox, milkweed, coneflowers, and other   nectar-rich plants to support butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

June Garden Tip: Early June is one of the best times in Central NC to fill gaps with colorful annuals and pollinator plants while soil temperatures are warm and growth is rapid. 🌻🦋🐝