Plantaholics Garden Club
GARDENING TIPS

Catmint, veronica, salvia, and some other low-growing perennials will give rise to another flush of blooms if the flower stems are sheared just below the old flowers. The lower down on the stem you cut, the longer they will take to rebloom.

As soon as you spy the telltale black spot ringed in yellow on your rose leaves, it's worth trying this home remedy: mix two tablespoons baking soda plus two tablespoons liquid soap into four quarts of water. Coat the leaves with the spray, and reapply after heavy rain.

Frequent rains leach fertilizer from the soil of container plantings, so they need to be fertilized more often than plants in the ground. Mix liquid fertilizer at half the recommended rate and fertilize two times a week. Don't fertilize when the soil is very dry or it can burn the roots, so you may need to water plants first, then water with the fertilizer solution.

Watering is very important this month.  Early morning is the best time.  Make sure you water deeply.  Our gardens need 1” of water in the summer months.

Pinch back mums and sedum until mid July.  Also, many annuals will enjoy a summer haircut.  If your wave petunias are getting a little leggy, trim them back an inch or so and they will bush out beautifully.

Bearded iris can be divided and replanted now.  Toss any shriveled up rhizomes and check for borers.

Sit back and spend some time enjoying your garden!!!