It’s officially summertime, and things are heating up in the garden! From pruning to planting, a few gardening tasks will set you up for success during some of the most prolific blooming periods of the year. So here you’ll find our timely garden tasks to begin as we kick off June.

• Edge your garden beds for a clean and structured look.
• Apply a thin layer of mulch around the base of your perennials and shrubs to lock in soil moisture before the summer heat sets in.
• For those in warmer zones (8-11), it’s probably getting hot in your garden. Make sure you frequently water your plants, especially in containers, to keep them happy.
• Decorate your patio with potted annuals, perennials, or shrubs!
• Continually deadhead spent flowers, especially on roses, for more blooms.
• Insects are returning – good and bad! Inspect your plants for signs of pest damage and treat them accordingly.
• Plant perennial herbs (like rosemary, lavender, or sage) to use in summer cocktails and other recipes.
• All zones can plant warm-season annuals – but remember to pinch them back for fuller growth and more flowers.
• Prune your wisteria after it finishes blooming.
• Japanese beetles are starting to return. Knock any beetles off your plants and into a soapy cup of water.
• Keep on weeding! It feels like a never-ending task, but it keeps your garden tidy and healthy.