To help make your yard or garden look its best this year, follow these tips from Utah State University Extension's Gardeners Almanac.
Stop harvesting asparagus stalks in early June to allow leaves to form for the rest of the growing season. Prune tomatoes to open up the plant canopy. Consider drip irrigating your garden to conserve water. Consider planting sweet corn every other week (until early July) in the garden to extend the harvest. Prune spring-flowering shrubs (those that flower before June) after flowering to allow new flower buds to form the next season. Prune (cut off) dead flowers from perennial and annual plants after they have finished flowering. Thin apple, peach, and apricot fruit to about one fruit every 5 to 6 inches. Apply a second pre-emergent herbicide in late May to early June to control annual grass weeds such as crabgrass and spurge. Remember that turfgrass only needs 1 to 1.5 inches of irrigation per week. Check the irrigation needs in your area.
Pests and Problems:
Monitor vegetables and herbs for earwig infestation. Use registered chemicals to protect ash trees and prevent damage from lilac/ash pests. Use control measures on apples and pears to reduce infested fruit. See Utah Pest Advisories for specific timings. Control powdery mildew on apples from when leaves first emerge (1/2 inch green) through June. Watch for raspberry pests from mid-May through early June. See Utah Pest Advisories for specific timings. To prevent maggots on cherries, control western cherry fruit flies when fruit changes color from straw to pink. Control peach blight on peach, nectarine and apricot trees. See Utah Pest Advisories for specific timings. Monitor your lawn for insects that harm the lawn. Consider using a preventative (systemic) insecticide in previously infested areas. Consider taking an online gardening course. Courses cover everything from container vegetable growing and creating the perfect soil to planting trees and pest control. There's something for everyone, from beginners to professional gardeners. Use code SAVE25 to get 25% off the course when you spend $10. Expires June 30, 2024. Find more gardening tips on Extension's Yard & Garden website. Click here to watch the June Gardening Tips video.
