June 3, 1998

I heard on the radio the other day that this will be the longest summer season possible. That's because Memorial Day (celebrated) was the earliest it could be and Labor Day will be the latest it can be. I was glad to hear that I will have all this extra time to get my summer projects done. I'll start on them as soon as I get my spring projects out of the way. You may have some of those projects, too.

There is still time to set out tomato and pepper plants. With the warm weather and warm soil they will get off to a flying start. Cucumbers, melons, and pumpkins can all be set out now. Another successive planting of sweet corn seed can be sown when the previous crop shows its fourth leaf.

Planting cole crops-broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage is probably not a good idea now. These crops need cool weather to grow and mature. Set out new plants of these crops in late July. They will mature in September and October making large heads with mild flavors. Many gardeners tell me they much prefer the flavor of cole crops grown in the fall.

Strawberries are ripe for picking now and the crop is good. Mild spring weather and ample rains make for a good strawberry harvest. After all the strawberries are harvested, set you mower to its highest cutting height and mow the plants off. Give the bed a top dressing of garden fertilizer and a good watering.

In the flower garden, it's time to remove the faded flower heads and cut back any poor-looking foliage. You can cut down the foliage of tulips and daffodils when it begins to turn yellow and wither. Sometimes established sedums, such as 'Brilliant' and 'Autumn Joy' flop over in late summer. If you pinch them back now they will regrow and stay upright. Some gardeners use a spade and undercut the plant to hold back the growth and keep them standing upright.

Spring flowering shrubs can be pruned now to shape them up. Pruning them later will not injure the shrubs but you may lose next spring's flowers. Forsythia, lilac, and bridal wreath should be pruned now, not later.

Homeowners who have white birch trees should be applying chemical control for birch borers. White birches are not suited for our climate and are very susceptible to birch borer injury. Chemical control for borers should be applied to white birches when blossoms fade on bridal wreath. Your local extension office will have detailed information on birch borer control. The best remedy, of course, is to plant trees that don't need this kind of care to survive. River birch is resistant to birch borer and a prettier tree for the landscape.

If you are going away from home for more than a day, take your hanging baskets down and set them in the shade and out of the wind. There is no way they will survive if left hanging in the air without daily attention. It's a good idea to move patio pots and planters to the shade too before you leave.