Summer Gardening Tips

vUse annuals or perennials to fill in small spaces.

vKeep annuals fresh by dead heading old flower blossoms as they finish.

vContinue fertilizing annuals and perennials in baskets, tubs and beds.

vThis is the time to start your fall veggie garden. Seed crops such as; endive, lettuce, green onions, oriental greens, cress, beets, Swiss chard, brussel sprouts and corn salad.

vHarvest fruits and veggies that are ready now. Keep strawberry runners in check. Prune out raspberry canes after fruiting. Next years crop will develop on this years new growth. Autumn fruiting raspberries are an exception, they fruit on the current years growth therefore are cut to the ground in early Spring. Don't forget to take any excess produce that you have to your local food bank!

vSeed new perennials now.

vStake tall plants as required.

vTrim back perennials that have bloomed.

vContinue to fertilize flowering pond plants monthly with Pond Tabs for lush growth and additional blossoms this summer.

vWeeds can be pulled before they go to seed for effective organic weed control. Long handled weeding tools make this job a lot easier.

vOver-seed older lawns that are thin to rejuvenate and give new life to your lawn with Evergro Overseed. It's also ideal for lawns that have had a lot of moss removed, thatched and left thin.

vDeadhead roses to encourage additional flowering.

vPrune shrubs that have finished blooming such as mock orange and weigela. Also hedges can be trimmed now.

vApply 2nd application of granular fertilizer (usually March and June) to all flowering shrubs if not applied in June. By the end of July it becomes to late to fertilize with granular fertilizers.

vPlant new trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, small fruits and herbs now. Remember to include bonemeal, peat moss, and manure or your own compost when planting.

vNew trees, roses and shrubs will require a lot of water during their first season. Remember to water deeply at least twice weekly and up to daily during dry periods. Lack of water in the summer and winter 'wet feet' are the two most common reasons why gardeners are unsuccessful with new additions.

vWatch for disease and insect problems and keep them in check. Most disease and insect problems start out as a small problem that can escalate quite quickly when they are not dealt with. Squishing problem bugs and trimming off diseased leaves when first noticed can help tremendously!

vKeep and eye out for slug damage, silvery trails are a sure sign that they are the culprits. 'Safer's' has a new pet and bird friendly slug bait that is really effective.

Whew! You're finished... sit back and enjoy
the feeling of a job well done!

Vegetable Seed
Starting Dates

February -
l Plant seeds for broad beans and radish in the garden, and celery, leeks, sweet onions, parsley and peppers indoors.
l Chance an early sowing of peas; if you get lucky it is definitely worth it!

March -
l Plant seeds for broad beans, corn salad, kale and collards, oriental greens, peas and radish in the garden. Seeds for broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, fennel, leeks, lettuce, parsley, peppers and tomatoes should be started indoors.

April -
l Plant early potatoes after the middle of the month.
l Plant seeds for beets, carrots, cilantro, endive, radicchio, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, storage and green onions, oriental greens, parsnip, peas, radish, spinach and Swiss chard in the garden.
l Start cauliflower, eggplant and melons indoors.
l Transplant broccoli and sweet onions out into the garden after hardening off first.

May -
l Plant seeds for beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, cilantro, corn, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, green onions, oriental greens, parsnips, spinach, Swiss chard, and turnips in the garden.
l Start late cabbage indoors.
l Transplant to garden artichoke, early cabbage, cauliflower, celery and fennel.
l Transplant pumpkin, squash, and tomatoes after the 24th of May if the evening temperatures are not too cold.

June -
lPlant beans beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, early cabbage, carrots, cilantro, corn, cucumbers, kale, leeks, lettuce, greens onions, parsnips, peas (2nd sowings), rutabagas, spinach, Swiss chard, and turnips into the garden.
l Transplant eggplant, melons and peppers.

July -
lThis is the time to start your fall planting winter crops such as; endive, lettuce, green onions, oriental greens, cress, beets, Swiss chard, brussel sprouts and corn salad.

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
Old Time is still a flying
and this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying

Robert Herrick