June Gardening Tips

General Gardening Tips

• June is a great time to plant! Plants and trees that provide color in the month of June include azaleas, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, spireas, butterfly bush, mock orange and goldenraintree. Visit the nursery and see these beautiful plants in bloom.
• It's a great time to plant annuals, perennials and all trees and shrubs. Merrifield has many beautiful annuals to choose from, including geraniums, impatiens, marigolds, petunias, vinca, salvia and many other plants. Perennials that provide interest in the month of June include daylilies, astilbe, rudbeckia, yarrow, foxgolve and much more.
• We recommend fertilizing annuals, perennials and flowering shrubs and trees with Merrifield Flowering Plant Food. This custom blended plant food contains slow-release nitrogen, sulfate of potash, iron and other micro-nutrients for overall plant growth and development.
• We recommend feeding all your evergreens (hollies, boxwoods and yews) and deciduous trees (maples, oaks and ash) with Merrifield Tree & Shrub Food. This product contains slow-release nitrogen, sulfate of potash, iron and other micro-nutrients for overall plant growth and development.
• Check all plants, especially newly planted ones, for water on a regular basis. Water deeply and thoroughly as needed. Pick-up a copy of our free brochure, Proper Planting & Watering Instructions.
• Gator bags provide a great way to keep trees watered during hot and dry months. These bags, which can hold up to 20 gallons of water, are secured to the trunk of the tree, where they release the water slowly to the root ball over the course of 15-20 hours.
• Now is a great time to install a water garden. The experts at Merrifield can design and build creative water features that will allow you to enjoy the soothing sights and sounds of water.
• Spruce up your summer landscape with beautiful color in containers. Our staff can assist you in selecting combinations of annuals, perennials and shrubs that work wonderfully together. We have a tremendous selection of window boxes, hanging baskets and planters. Be sure to use Merrifield Potting Mix when planting and a water-grabbing polymer such as Soil Moist to reduce the frequency of watering.

Pest Controls

• Various pest problems can occur in June. If you have plants that you suspect may be facing a pest problem, bring in a representative sample to our plant clinic at either of our stores and speak with one of our plant specialists. We will diagnose the problem and recommend the appropriate control. Listed below are some of the problems that can appear this month along with the proper controls.
• Spray Rose Pride (Orthenex) on roses to control insect and disease problems.
• Spray for bagworms on arborvitae and other evergreens. Use Thuricide or Monterey Garden Insect Spray.
• Watch for mildew in roses, dogwoods, lilacs, crape myrtles and perennials. Infuse or Immunox are recommended for this disease.
• Spider mites can be controlled on Alberta spruce, hemlocks and other plants using Bonide Systemic Insect Control or Bayer Advanced 3 in 1 Insect, Disease and Mite Control.
•  Lacebugs can be controlled on azaleas, andromeda and other plants now with Bayer Advanced 12 Month Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed, or Bonide Systemic Insect Control.
• To treat hemlock woolly adelgid, euonymus scale and other pests use Bayer Advanced 12 Month Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed and/or Bonide All Seasons Spray Oil.
• To control deer foraging on your landscape plants, try the following: Bobbex, Milorganite and/or Deer Away.
• To control rabbits and other animals that are getting into your garden, try a repellent such as Dried Blood or Ropel, which is labeled for that particular pest.
• Fruit trees should be on a regular spray program. See our Fruit Tree Spray Program bulletin.
• Control slugs and snails on hosta and other plants with Sluggo.

• Bagworms
• Borers
• Gypsy Moths
• Lacebugs
• Scale
• Spider Mites
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
• Caterpillars
• Japanese Beetles
• And more

Fruit and Vegetable Gardens

• It's a great time to plant apple, pear, peach and all other fruit trees. Some fruit trees require two different varieties to pollinate properly. Be aware of this and ask one of our nursery professionals to guide you in selecting varieties.
• You can also plant vegetables in containers and grow them on decks, patios or other small spaces. Use Merrifield Potting Mix when planting.
• Fruit trees need to be sprayed on a regular schedule, but avoid spraying your fruit trees when the blossoms are wide open.
• It's a great time to plant strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Merrifield Garden Center has these plants in stock, along with information on how to plant and care for them. Visit the nursery and discover these interesting edible plants.
• Fertilize fruits and vegetables with a good quality, slow-release vegetable food such as Merrifield Flowering Plant Food or Osmocote.
• Time to stake tomatoes and spray them if necessary to prevent disease problems.
• In mid to late June, you can control borers in squash, cucumbers and melons if you use Eight.
• Merrifield Garden Center has free informational bulletins on many different gardening topics.

Lawns

• To prevent the summer crop of crabgrass, apply a second application of pre-emergent crabgrass control such as Preen Crabgrass Preventer (if you have not seeded the lawn recently) or Tupersan (if you did seed the lawn recently).
• June is the time to apply a fungicide to the lawn to control turf diseases such as brown patch, dollar spot and others. Use Bayleton or Immunox.
• Apply Perk to the lawn to keep it nice and green throughout the summer months. This product contains 10% iron, which gives added color without excessive growth.
• Fertilize zoysia lawns now with Merrifield Premium 26-4-12.
• If needed, apply a weed control to the lawn to kill actively growing weeds. Use Bonide Weed Beater or Speed Zone.

Tips on applying weed killer:

• Do not apply weed controls on newly seeded areas.
• Do not apply weed controls on windy days.
• Do not apply weed controls near or on the edge of waterways.
• Do not allow children or pets to play on lawns freshly applied with weed controls. It is best to wait one week.
• Do not apply weed controls when temperatures are above 85 degrees F.
• Always follow the label directions.

House Plants

• You can move houseplants outside to the deck or patio and enjoy them outdoors for the summer. It is best to gradually introduce them to more direct sunlight to prevent the leaves from being burned.
• Feed houseplants with a good quality indoor plant food such as Jack's Classic (water-soluble powder) or Osmocote (slow-release granular).
• If needed, re-pot root bound houseplants to a larger pot. Merrifield stocks a full line of containers, including terra cotta, wood, concrete, ceramic and plastic. Use Merrifield Potting Mix when repotting houseplants.
• Hibiscus, jasmine, oleander and mandevilla are just some of the flowering tropical plants you can add to your deck, patio or balcony.

Additional Information

• Summer Lawn Care
• Crabgrass Control
• Roses
• Crape Myrtle Varieties
• Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas and many other plant varieties
• Shade Gardening
• Perennial Information Sheets
• Butterfly Gardens, Cutting Gardens & Hummingbirds
• Fruit Tree Spray Program
• Tomatoes and other Vegetables
• Pest Appearance Timetable
• Proper Planting & Watering Instructions
• Water Gardens

June Reminders:

• Treat dad to a beautiful plant or a gift certificate from Merrifield Garden Center for Father's Day.
• Get ready for those summer barbecues and spruce up your summer landscape with beautiful color from Merrifield's excellent selection of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs.
• Visit our display gardens at our Fair Oaks location to give you ideas and inspiration.
• Tune in to "Merrifield's Gardening Advisor" television program, which airs every Saturday at 8 am on NEWSCHANNEL 8. This interesting and informative program provides you with great gardening ideas