Typical June Gloom Provides Ideal Conditions for Garden Growth

June in Southern California typically means cloudy mornings that turn into balmy, sunny afternoons, making it an ideal month to spend time in the garden before the summer heat hits.

Thin out fruit trees: By June, the trees should be full of small fruits like apricots, plums, and peaches. The weaker fruit will begin to drop this month. Do not be alarmed. In fact, after the initial molt, it removes the smallest of the rest. This will allow the hardier fruit to reach its full potential.

Deadhead Flowering Plants and Shrubs: Your rose and other flowering plants should already be in full bloom. Remove old flowers to make way for new ones. Trim unruly branches and stems to encourage better density in the center of the plant.

Control aphids: Everything comes to life in June, including bad bugs like the tiny aphid. These insects attach themselves to the plants and suck the sap from the new growth. When infestation is significant, they can curl leaves and stunt plant growth. Tips: Remove the stems with the highest concentration of aphids, then shoot a strong stream of water at the aphids to kill the remaining ones.

Plant avocado trees: Plant your avocado trees in loose, well-draining soil that is level or a little above ground level. Lay 5 inches of wood chips around the tree. Do not overwater even a young tree. Let the soil around the tree dry out a bit before watering. Never let it accumulate around the trunk. Flowers will bloom the following spring, but don’t expect fruit until two to three years after planting.

Be water smart: With hot, dry weather on the horizon, replace water-loving trees and shrubs with those that require little water once established. A water-efficient landscape can include drought-tolerant trees and shrubs such as bougainvillea, California sycamore, California wax myrtle, acacia, manzanita, Catalina cherry, or western redbud (with its magenta flowers).

Lawn care: Spring and fall are ideal times to patch or replace your lawn. Grass types that are best suited for Southern California include Fescue (water-absorbent), Bermuda (drought-resistant), and St. Augustine (durable). Proper soil preparation with the correct compost mix (based on soil type) is crucial to lawn success. Once established, add a coat of specially designed lawn dressing.

Work fast. It is still time to plant vegetables: For a summer harvest, plant tomatoes, squash, melons, celery, corn, cucumbers, lima beans, okra, bell peppers, spinach, and squash in early June.