By Barbara Gyarmathy
Master Gardener
Much of the effort to plant our gardens has been accomplished by now. June is the month to reap the rewards of all that work and rest in the assurance the garden will now grow on auto-pilot. You still need to be attentive to weeds and water but your winter dreams will now become a reality to behold. Keep up with the following tasks:
Move your houseplants outside to a shady location when nighttime temperatures are above 50 degrees.
Water flowerbeds deeply – 1 to 1½ inches of water per week, preferably using slow-drip systems. If using a sprinkler or hose, early morning is best. A native garden, by the third year, will not need to be watered except in cases of drought.
Watch for Japanese beetles at the end of the month. If there are only a few, flip them with your fingertips into a jar of soapy water. If necessary, contact the local Extension office for suggestions on chemical controls.
Apply a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, to roses at the end of the spring bloom.
Try adding large containers with tropical plants to areas that need extra color and drama. Bananas, caladium, elephant ears and palms work well.
Speaking of color and drama, take time to see the Roy Diblik Garden of Living Art at the Beverly Arts Center, 111th and Western. Located off the parking lot on the left side of courtyard, it was planted last year by Diblik and members of the Morgan Park Beverly Hills Garden club. A seasoned gardener will tell you a newly planted garden “sleeps” the first year, the second year it “creeps” and the third year it “leaps.” This garden, though newly planted, is already leaping.
Diblik focuses on creating native gardens and is very mindful of having constant color or interesting textural elements in all four seasons. Bulbs, grasses, carex and native perennials are used. This summer, look for allium moly (lily leek) and allium schnoprasum (chives), salvia nemorosa (Wesuwe and Snowhill), allium angulosum (Summer Beauty), seslaria caerulea (spring moor grass), and calamintha nepeta (catmint). In the fall salidago sphacelata (Wichita Mountain), asters (Twilight and Avondale) and Molina moor grass (Transparent) will take the stage.
The garden looks different every week, so treat yourself to several visits!
