June To-Do List

See what HGTV editors and contributors have planned for their spring and summer gardens.

By: Jessica Yonker

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Decorating With Flowers

June offers so many flowers that I keep a bouquet on my desk at all times. The kitchen windowsill sprouts single bloom stems tucked into tiny bottles. — Julie Martens/Frostburg, Maryland

Also See: 10 Top-Notch Flower Arranging Tips

Staking the Veggie Garden

By mid-month, I add stakes to every plant in the vegetable garden that might need them, including tomatoes, peppers and Brussels sprouts. My garden is in a windy spot, so I stake anything that gets any size to it.—Julie Martens

Learn More: How to Prune and Stake Tomato Plants

Get Rid of Caterpillars

If tent worm caterpillar nests appear in the crabapple tree, I cut them down and bury them or stash them in a trash bag to put out with the trash. Burning isn’t necessary, but I’ll concede that it is fun.—Julie Martens

Watch for Cane Borers

In the raspberry patch, I watch for wilted stem tips with the double girdling beneath that tells me raspberry cane borers have arrived. The solution is simple: Cut stems about an inch below the lowest girdling mark. Destroy the stem tips, which contain borers.—Julie Martens

Clean the Birdbath

Cleaning the birdbath is a dirty job that needs to be done weekly. I use the “jet” setting on my hose nozzle to remove the dirty water and any goo. I’ve never had any luck with anti-algae herbs, potions or products.—Julie Martens

Also See: Make a Splash: 15 Beautiful Birdbaths for Every Style

Thin Squash Seedlings

I'll be thinning butternut seedlings growing in the compost heap.—Julie Martens

Monitor Potatoes

I continue to observe potato growth, adding more soil when stems poke about 6 inches above the last soil I added. I only hill potatoes twice.—Julie Martens

Also See: Planting, Growing and Harvesting Potatoes

Fertilizing Container Flowers

All my container gardens are planted. I start watering with bloom booster fertilizer in mid-June, using it every other week. I’ve been pouring it on the Supertunias and Wave petunias weekly since June 1.—Julie Martens

Cleaning Up the Patio

My patio has turned into a refuge for abandoned garden pots. In early spring, I swept and washed the patio by pouring a bucket of a hot water-vinegar solution, then sweeping over that with a stiff broom—it really brightened up the concrete and made a difference. This month, I'm going to try to either get rid or fill the empty planters, and also invest in some new patio furniture.—Jessica Yonker/Atlanta, Georgia

Attempting to Beat Science

With my patio being rather small and receiving only a few hours of sun each day, it's been frustrating to think I won't be able to grow any summer tomatoes. But, I've decided to give it a shot anyway: I planted a 'Sun Gold' tomato and 'Spicy Globe' basil in a hanging basket. Tomato plants need deep pots to properly produce a crop, but if I can get just one tomato out of this experiment, I'll be satisfied.—Jessica Yonker

Also See: Growing Tomatoes in Pots

Pepper Raised Bed

This summer, I'm testing out a Woolly Pocket raised bed—it's made out of thick fabric and was easy to put together and should be easy to disassemble, fold up and take it with me if I need to. It has become a home to six pepper plants, five 'Black Beauty' purple bell peppers and a hot poblano pepper.—Jessica Yonker

Also See: Planting and Growing Bell Peppers

Planting Moonflowers

I have a rail planter that has been empty since the fall. Early in the month, I planted night-blooming moonflower (Ipomoea alba) seeds. I'm hoping once they grow, they'll slowly spill out over the edge of the rail. Plus, with living in a ground-floor apartment and just a few feet from the dumpster, I could definitely use something fragrant.—Jessica Yonker

Also See: Moonflower Plant Care

Add Mulch

I'll continue mulching the garden. Mulch helps keep the ground cool and plant roots shaded.—Dee Nash/Guthrie, Oklahoma

Also See: 10 Mulch Do's and Don’ts

Check for Leaks

I check all drip irrigation for leaks and breaks; plus, I check the drip irrigation in containers to make sure the entire container is receiving water.—Dee Nash

Also See: The Proper Way to Water Your Garden

Sprinkler Vacation Prep

I run all water timers to make sure they are working properly before going on vacation.—Dee Nash

Weed Patrol

I'll keep pulling weeds, because small weeds are much easier to remove than larger ones.—Dee Nash

Also See: Make Your Own Natural Weed Killer

Waiting to See Green

I run all water timers to make sure they are working properly before going on vacation.—Dee Nash

Spring Cleaning

I tidy up around the spring bloomers, cutting back brown, wilted leaves from Virginia bluebells and tying up spent daffodil stems.—Kim Visokey

Defend the Hostas

I put slug control around the base of hostas.—Kim Visokey

Also See: Hostas: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hostas

Switch Out Annuals

I'll remove leggy pansies from spring containers and replace them with warm-weather favorites, such as trailing verbena.—Kim Visokey

Go Garden-Stalking

I'll get out of my garden and visit other gardens for inspiration!—Kim Visokey

Making the Garden Cooler

I'm installing a small, quiet, outdoor fan (specially made for gardens) to keep a slow breeze going in the back garden, which is shaded and filled with lots of plants. It will keep air moving, as well as keep mosquitoes at bay—they hate even a slight breeze.—Felder Rushing/Jackson, Mississippi

Adding a Natural Element

My new hosta and fern garden—filled with lots of different kinds of shade plants—needs something to make it look less contrived, so my son and I are going out along the river to find the perfect piece of driftwood to give the garden a touch of naturalism.—Felder Rushing

Summer Harvest, Fall Prep

Tomatoes and peppers are ripening in the Deep South, but will soon shut down through the heat of the summer. Later this month, I'll sow new seeds for plants to set out in July for a fantastic fall harvest.—Felder Rushing

Getting Rid of Poison Ivy

I am going around the garden (and the back fences of neighbors, with permission), spraying tender, young poison ivy leaves with Roundup to get rid of it before it takes over my own garden.—Felder Rushing

Also See: How to Kill Poison Ivy in Your Yard

Adding a Fountain

I am having a new fountain installed in my small pond; it will keep the water bubbling and noisy, and make the water feature unattractive to mosquitoes, which require calm water.—Felder Rushing

Starting a New Compost Heap

Before it gets too hot, I plan on digging out my compost bin, getting rid of tree roots and laying down some plastic sheeting—an old shower curtain, perhaps—before starting a new pile.—Felder Rushing

Also See: How to Compost

Water Wisely

I'll set up a garden watering schedule this month.— Melissa Caughey/Osterville, Mssachusetts

Also See: The Proper Way to Water Your Garden

Fire Pit Clean-Up

I'll clean up the fire pit, then gather wood and kindling.—Melissa Caughey

Mosquito Control

I'll work on making my outdoor space mosquito-free with plants that repel them and citronella candles.—Melissa Caughey

Also See: How to Make Citronella Candles

BBQ Prep

It's time: I'll clean and prep the grill, then refill the propane tank.—Melissa Caughey

Also See: How to Deep Clean Your Grill and Grates

Bring the Inside Out

I'll bring out and clean off my outdoor furniture.—Melissa Caughey

Also See: How to Clean Outdoor Cushions

Look Out for Fungus

I'll watch for garden fungus, such as tomato blight, and treat when necessary.—Melissa Caughey

Also See: How to Grow Tomatoes in a Raised Bed

Bring On the Veggies

Now that frost danger is gone, I'll plant my full vegetable garden.—Melissa Caughey

Also See: Tips for a Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

Bee Care

I'll inspect new beehives and add honey supers to older, thriving beehives.—Melissa Caughey