Temperature, humidity and thunderstorms point to potential June activity. Also, school is over and a lot of people are taking time off to go on vacation. This leaves less time for gardening and gardening. But there's a lot of landscaping and gardening work to do in northwest Florida in June.
In today's post, I'll share some horticultural ideas from the June North Florida Horticulture Almanac/UF Extension/IFAS Extension (edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep451) and invite you to visit the June Plant Clinic.
Annuals that can tolerate full sun during the hot summer months include celosia, hemlock, periwinkle, and some coleus species. See annual plants at : edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_annual_landscape_plants.
Add vibrant colors to your landscape with perennials. See perennial landscapes : edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_perennials.
Hot and rainy summer weather is the perfect time to plant palm trees. Make sure the trunk is not covered with earth and choose hardy North Florida palms. See Palms : edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_palms.
Plant heat-loving herbs such as basil, Mexican tarragon, and rosemary. Mow regularly to prevent flowering and encourage branching. See Herbs : edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_herbs.
Plant okra, southern peas, and sweet potatoes. See Florida gardening : edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening.
If there is little rain, be careful about drought and water. See Landscape irrigation : edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_landscape_irrigation.
Keep pruning lightly during the warmer months to get more branches and flowers. Leaves can still be cut in June without producing flower buds the following spring. See Pruning trees and shrubs for the landscape : edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_tree_pruning.
Yellow and brown spots on St. Augustine lawns can be caused by insects, disease, or lack of water. Take the time to identify the cause so your treatment can be effective. Rejuvenate areas where grass does not grow well by replacing it with adaptive or ground cover grasses such as mundu, perennial beech, or Asian jasmine. You can also use mulch instead of grass on slopes or under large trees. Choose wisely. See "Garden Insects" : edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_garden_pest_insects, Florida Weed Friendly Alternatives : As Garden Solutions. ufl.edu/lawns/turf-types/alternatives-to-turfgrass.html.
The June Plant Clinic is open Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the temporary UF/IFAS Annex on the back of the 1976 Okalusa Technical College campus, Lewis Turner Boulevard. in Fort Walton Beach.
If you have a problem with a plant that you would like to diagnose, bring an herb, plant, insect, etc. to the clinic. Give an example. The specimen must be fresh and representative of the landscape. This plant with several leafy stems, a 4-inch square of grass with tied roots, etc. is possible.
You can also take a soil sample to check the pH.
This article originally appeared in the Northwest Florida Daily News: Gardening in June could mean a trip to the vegetable clinic | gardens
