By: Jessica Harvey
CSU Extension Denver Master Gardener since 2020
June kicks off the gardening season in earnest, especially after all the spring showers we’ve been enjoying as of late. If you’ve not gotten those warm season plantings in the ground yet, now is the time! Start enjoying the bounty of blooms and get ready for all the wonderful produce on our horizons!
Spring weeds in my community garden plot by Jessica Harvey
Weeds & Weeding
- All the rain we’ve been getting is great for our plants, but unfortunately, it’s also great for those weed seeds hiding in our soils. Better to get weeding early and not give them the chance to reseed again.
- If you’ve got weedy beds that look like mine, work smarter and not harder by using the right tools. A scuffle hoe, or action hoe, in combination with a rake will make quick work of those weed seedlings and save you the tedium of hand pulling.
- Sometimes weeds can indicate issues within the soil. Check this list of indicator weeds to see what your weeds may be telling you.
- Once you’ve cleared the weeds, be sure to top dress with your mulch of choice to help keep those weeds from coming back again. Plus, mulching will help you conserve water as well, it’s a win win. Unsure what type of mulch is best for your garden? Check out “Selecting the Best Mulch for Your Plants” before you go shopping.
Common garden weeds, speedwell and henbit by Jessica Harvey
Trees
- There’s been a lot of spring storm damage to our trees this year and you may be struggling to get on the schedule with any of the local tree companies because of it. Use colored ribbons or spray paint at the base of broken and dead branches now when they are clearly visible, then later you won’t forget or mistake which areas are in need of attention.
Perennials
- Check your shrubs and herbaceous perennials and trim out any branches or areas that haven’t started to show signs of leaf or bud growth. Before pruning, be sure you understand the plant you are pruning and its growth habit. For more information on when and how to prune check out PlantTalk “Colorado’s Pruning Shrubs” and CSU GardenNotes on “Pruning Flowering Shrubs.”
- For well-established perennials, consider fertilizing now. Much like with our lawns, we need to give perennials a little love early in the season since we aren’t regularly amending their soils. If you’re unsure what type or whether you should fertilize consult the GardenNotes “Understanding Fertilizers” for guidance.
Tomatillo seedlings with early flower buds by Jessica Harvey
Annuals
- Are you starting to see early buds or flowers? If so, it’s best to pinch or snip them to allow your plants to focus on vegetative growth. When freshly planted, you want your plants to focus on strengthening their root systems and putting on more foliage. You’ll see an increase in flowers and fruit later in the season for your efforts.
- For plants where the foliage is the focus, think coleus or basil, consider strategic pruning now to help encouraging branching. Pruning the terminal bud, or topmost growth tip, will encourage lateral buds to further develop and thereby create a bushier plant.
Coleus that could have benefitted from terminal pruning by Jessica Harvey
Vegetable Garden
- If you’ve not signed up yet, join the Grow and Give program to share the wealth of your harvest with those in need in our local communities.
- If you’re already signed up for Grow and Give, let CSU Online help you get your vegetable garden off to a good start with “AGBB 2084 – Summer 2021 Free Vegetables Course”
- Throughout the month make sure to check back on any of those climbers you may have planted and help guide them up trellises, netting or cages. Vertical plantings will save you space and helping them early will keep them from strangling other nearby plantings.
Snap peas climbing an A-frame trellis by Jessica Harvey
Got Gardening Questions?
Have a question we’ve not yet answered for you? Post your question at Ask an Expert or check to see if another gardener has already asked or answered the same question.
You can also reach a CSU Extension-Denver Master Gardener by emailing denvermg@colostate.edu or call 720-913-5278.
Denver Gardeners 