June Garden Checklist: Tasks & DIY Projects

June is a busy time for cold-climate gardeners. Summer is here and it’s time to plant, create, and visit other gardens for inspiration.

Have a look at the ideas for this month.

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June Garden Tasks

Here in southwestern Ontario, Canada, the month of June can be hot and dry. It’s the month of summer solstice with the longest period of daylight and shortest night around June 20 or 21. Our gardens are starting to thrive and it’s garden tour season—perfect for grabbing fresh ideas.

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Grow

Planting, Sowing, & More

Outdoors 

With last frost in the rearview mirror, summer growing season underway, and it’s time to plant, plant, plant!

• New plants started indoors in spring should be outdoors in the ground or in containers by now. Use squirrel screens to keep wildlife from nibbling on them.
• It’s safe to plant warmth-loving veggies like tomatoes and peppers, along with other cold-sensitive crops. Keep frost cloths handy just in case.
• Start mapping out your succession planting plans for your vegetable garden. Summer always flies by.
• Monitor annual and perennial vines to make sure they grow on their supports and don’t tangle.
• If you have particular plants on your wish list, nab them at garden nurseries while you can. Only pay full price for plants for plants that you must have but sell out fast!
• Remember to turn your compost pile (2x per week is ideal), to keep the microbes working.
• Grow new plants from cuttings: see what you can propagate now.
  
  These lists specifically share native plants and flowering annuals you can grow from cuttings.
• Wondering if your spring-flowering bulbs will come back next year? It depends. Either way, the cold hardy ones can stay in the ground.

Pond

• Keep your pond pump free of debris. Avoid invasive pond plants—they can take over in no time. Use this simple tip for keeping the water sparkling clear.
• Tips for Creating a Wildlife Garden & Pond has lots of good ideas for rewilding your garden.

Wild Things

• Keep bird feeders and water feeders clean and filled.
• Clean out nesting boxes between broods. But be sure you’re not disturbing an active nest.
• Also keep hummingbird feeders clean and filled. Remove if there is any sign of mold.
• Are hummingbirds avoiding your feeders? This may be why.

Indoors

• Grow salad greens and other veggies and herbs can grow indoors all year-round.
• Watch that houseplants are not over or under watered. And move them back from windows to avoid too much summer sun.
• If you’re going on vacation, use these tips for keeping your houseplants watered or at least alive while you’re gone.

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Make

Creative Projects

June is a very busy time for me. If I’m not working in the garden, I’m visiting gardens. It’s a wonderful, but fast-paced month.

Here’s some project ideas.

• Get creative with succulents
• Make garden art flowers from dishes
• Make a garden art lighthouse
• Make a suitcase fairy garden
• Make a Garden Shadow box

If you’re scouring yard sales for supplies, this is the checklist I use.

If you enjoy sewing, you can make some grow bags and a nice garden apron.

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Ideas

Dream & Scheme

• How about a bathtub garden pond?
• Fences are just like art gallery walls
• Are you on Team Rust? Here’s some outdoor art ideas.

Observe & Enjoy

You may not know it by the name phenology, but you certainly know what it is. Phenology is the science of observing annual first events in nature.  When flower buds open. When peepers first peep. When bees appear. When migrations arrive. When bulbs pop up. The list is endless.

Seasonal changes prompt natural responses in the plant and animal kingdoms. It is interesting to note these events and compare them year over year. I jot them down in a Google calendar I’ve devoted to Phenology.

This book, Phenology, by Theresa Crimmins has wonderful examples.

Summer Phenological Events

Here’s a few examples you might notice.

• Late May or early June often means frog and toad mating time. Those night-time calls are deafening (but productive)!
• Tree leaves are out!
• Early-blooming plants are showing off.
• It’s probably peak bug month. Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators are collecting nectar and pollen.
• Fireflies are blinking in the night.
• Monarchs are laying eggs.
• Baby birds are fledging; ready to leave the nest. And there are more broods to come!
• Summer solstice marks the longest day of the year.

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Resources

Happy June! Happy summer. Keep cool.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛