Utah's First
Family Nursery
Welcome to the month of June, gardeners! Spring days are here and we are SO ready to get our hands dirty in the garden. Spring has sprung, blooms are blooming, summer is right around the corner, and it’s time to get to work.
"I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth?"
~ Edward Giobbi, Artist
Check these June gardening tips off of your June to-do lists and check back in with us next month for more! If you missed our tips earlier this spring, you can find there here.
This month, keep an eye out for pests and infestations as the temperatures rise and the pests get hungry! At the first sign of aphids, treat your fruit and shade trees. Signs of aphids include curling and misshapen leaves. Look for them on the undersides of leaves. When possible, use organic treatments such as a homemade soap spray or the introduction of beneficials such as ladybugs.
Another pest to look out for around this time of year is the codling moth in your apple trees. The moth’s larvae are the ones to blame for wormy apples. On other fruit trees including apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarine, grapes, pears, roses, and euonymus, watch for and control powdery mildew with fungicides.
We should be through our cold frosty nights but just in case, remember to cover tender annuals with newspaper or other covers, to protect from frost.
We are past the typical last frost date, which is May 15 in northern Utah so summer flowering tubers like cannas, begonia, and dahlias can be safely set out.
Keep dead blooms off of your annuals and perennials in order to keep them bushy, full, and blooming!
Apply plant supports to newly emerging perennials and annuals that tend to flop over, such as peonies. Support them before they grow tall enough to fall over.
As the temperature rises keep adding beneficial bacteria to your pond.
UPDATE: We no longer carry pond plants here at Glover Nursery. Our pond expert Shane went and visited Utah Water Gardens and we are so happy to recommend them to you.
Not only do they carry Utah’s largest variety of Aquatic Plants including Utah Natives, Winter Hardy Water Lilies, Perennials, Tropicals, and hard-to-find plants, but they are a great locally owned and operated business with a fantastic team. They have a resident botanist and helpful staff to fulfill all of your aquatic plant needs!
It’s sprinkler time! Now is the time to start watering your lawn, but don’t overdo it. Lawns don’t need to be watered every day, or even every other day. For guidance on proper lawn watering in your area, be sure to check this weekly watering guide.
If you haven’t already, be sure to aerate your lawn.
Fertilize your lawn every 30 to 90 days starting now but be careful not to over-fertilize. Always follow the label. Now is also a good time to apply iron to your lawn. Iron helps to ensure a healthy, lovely green lawn that doesn't grow excessively and is easier to maintain.
As the weather warms up, keep your lawn mowed between 2-3″.
For more tips, check out our Seasonal Tips page!
Get Ready for Spring: March Gardening Tips
Your To-Do List: April Gardening Tips
Dormant Oil and Pre-Emergent
Spring has sprung! Have you been checking off your March gardening to-do list? We recommend different products throughout the year to help you get the most out of your gardens. We have three product recommendations to help reduce your work load as the season progresses.
Dormant Oil is made up of Paraffinic Oil and water and is for use on ornamental trees, shrubs, fruit trees, and shade trees. One we recommend is Hi-Yield Dormant Spray, but there are a few varieties we carry that all work very well and are designed for slightly different conditions.
They are used to control pests and insects on trees and shrubs by covering leaves and limb surfaces, killing insects and insect eggs. They aren’t toxic or harmful to helpful pollinators because it dissipates quickly before pollinators arrive later in the spring. It’s also safe to use around children and pets.
Dormant oil is effective on aphids, mealybugs, thrips, whiteflies, adelgids, leafhoppers, mites, and more! It is the most effective on eggs and young insects so spraying before they hatch and are active is important. Mature insects create more work to eradicate from your plants.
As the name implies, you should use it when your tree or shrub is dormant but the buds are swollen and about to break open. Depending on which Dormant Oil you use, there are other factors that can affect its effectiveness so be sure to read the label. We recommend spraying when temps are at least 40 degrees but never above 85 degrees. Ideally, the temperature range is between 50-70 with no precipitation for 48 hours after application. If the buds have already opened, do not use it as it will impact the development of fruit and will adversely affect pollination.
Pre-emergent is an herbicide that prevents seeds from setting root, significantly reducing the amount of weeds that you will have to pull. As the name suggests, it works before the weed seeds have begun to sprout. It prevents tiny from developing, but will not affect plants that already have roots growing. As such, once the weeds have started growing, pre-emergent will not be effective (though, if you pull the weeds and then apply it, it will work for the prevention of new seed development).
Pre-emergent creates a protective layer in the soil. It contains chemicals that prevent seed development. As weed seeds begin to germinate, the roots will hit the protective layer. As it is a herbicide the product will prevent it from continuing its growth. You will never see the starts peeking through the soil!!
As we mentioned, pre-emergent should be applied before weeds start to emerge from the ground. Weeds have different germination periods, but the end of March or early in April will have the best effect. It’s better to apply it too early than too late. Apply pre-emergent evenly to the needed area and then water it in to solidify the protective layer - unless you are applying a liquid pre-emergent, then there is no need to water it in.
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Garden Plant Helleborus: The First Blooms of Spring
5 Things to do While Waiting for Spring
March brings with it the glorious days of spring - the first official day of spring is March 20th. We are springing forward, days are getting longer, and plants will start peeking their way up through the soil. While we enjoy a few late winter blooms, like Hellebore and Pansies, it is time to start prepping your garden for the growing season. Below are some tips and tricks to help you get ready.
Add these tasks to your March gardening “To-Do List”:
Early March is the time to prune peach, plum, cherry, and apricot trees. If you didn't prune your apple trees or other deciduous trees in February, prune them now as well. Apply Dormant Oil, also known as Horticultural Oil, to ornamentals, fruit trees, shrub and shade trees to help control insects such as aphids, scale, and mites that will be coming back in the spring.
Ideally, you will spray when temps are above 40 degrees with no precipitation for 48 hours after application. You can also spray Copper Fungicide this time of year, either 24 hours prior to the Dormant Oil application, or you can even mix them together and spray both products at the same time, just be sure to mix the proper ratio for each product separately before combining them in a sprayer.
As the snow melts away, it’s time to remove the winter layer of mulch from around perennials and roses. Rake out debris from your flower and shrub beds. If you are planning on moving your perennials, do it now before they start to bud.
Once the soil has dried out enough, nutrient-rich compost can be added to flower beds. Don’t work the soil if it’s too wet because it causes compaction (cement-like texture in the soil).
Apply fertilizer to your shrubs and perennials. Some garden beds may also need an application of iron in March. If you do not plan on starting anything from seed, it's a great time to put down some Pre-Emergent to help prevent weed seed from germinating. You can apply a granular formula or a liquid formula, depending on what is best for your circumstances.
You may also like to read: 5 Things to do While Waiting for Spring
Now is the time to prune your rose bushes, look for bud swell as your signal to prune. It is also a great time to start pruning back the perennials leaves, stems and seed heads that were left over winter. Summer flowering shrubs like potentilla and many spireas can be pruned at the end of March or early April.
Start begonias, dahlias, and other tubers indoors for earlier blooms. For more on starting bulbs indoors, check out How to Start Seeding Indoors
Another useful resource: Growing from Seed
Before you need them, make sure your garden tools are still working and in good shape. Service your power equipment and sharpen your lawnmower blades. Now is also a good time to organize your tool sheds and storage areas so that come gardening time you won’t waste any time finding what you need.
Getting back out in the garden has numerous benefits for our mental and physical health. Take care of these gardening items in March and springtime will be here before you know it. If you’re a newbie ready to start a garden, the team here at Glover Nursery are eager to help. Consider joining our Facebook community for a wealth of shared knowledge and be inspired by your fellow gardeners.
You might also be interested: Planning Your Garden
Updates, Sales, and Gardening Tips
9275 S. 1300 W. West Jordan, UT 84088 Phone: (801) 562-5496 Fax: (801) 562-5595 Email: [email protected]
Updates, Sales, and Gardening Tips
