June Garden Checklist: Planting Bulbs, Vegetables, Herbs, and Pest Prevention

Plant

• Summer bulbs in 4–6″ pots: Sunny spots: agapanthus, calla, canna, crocosmia, dahlia, gladiolus, tigridia. Shade: tuberous begonia.
• Balled-and-burlapped or container-grown: Groundcovers, vines, trees, shrubs, Flower Carpet roses.
• Hotter peppers: Scoville units range from 0 (bell) to 350,000 (habanero). Any variety gets hotter in warmer spots. Plant against a south wall for reflected heat, higher temps, wind protection.
• Annuals for bare spots: Sow cosmos, marigold, nasturtium, portulaca, sweet alyssum, zinnia in sunny, prepared beds. Transplant seedlings to gaps after harvest/fade.
• Groundcovers for dry banks: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, thymes, trailing ceanothus, cotoneaster, juniper, rosemary.
• Thai basil & cilantro: Plant now for summer-long harvest. Both love sun and water; do well in pots. Basil from seedlings—pinch flower spikes for more leaves, or let bloom for purple flowers. Cilantro from seed; harvest at 6″. Low desert: sow in fall.

Maintain

• Deadhead: Snip faded flowers to prevent seed set and keep bloom cycle going.
• Divide spring bloomers: After bloom, dig and divide irises, Oriental poppies, primulas. Poppies separate root-by-root; irises cut with shovel/knife. Discard woody/dead roots.
• Prune pine candles: Light green finger-like new shoots. As needles open, snap off top half to limit growth—bonsai trick for landscape pines.

Protect

• Prevent wormy apples: One hole in/out = codling moth; tunnels = apple maggot. Spray with spinosad-based organic pesticide.
• Treat aphids: Blast with hose jet; repeat 2–3×. Severe cases: follow with insecticidal soap.