Gardening in Minnesota – Tips for Summer

Gardening in Minnesota – Tips for Summer

Most people think of summertime as peak gardening season. The weather can be very unpredictable during the summer months, so you need to plan accordingly. And if you’re planning on taking any trips for vacation, make sure you have a back-up plan so your garden doesn’t suffer! Here are a few things you can do each month this summer to make your garden the best it can be:

June

Because the growing season is short, try to finish up planting by early this month.
Thin flower and vegetable seeds and delay the spreading of mulch until the soil is warm.
Plant heat-tolerant varieties of lettuce where they will be shaded by taller plants.
If it has rained, don’t work in the garden until the plants are dried – to avoid spreading fungus disease.
Start perennial seeds in your garden between June and July so they become strong for winter.

July

In high-temperature weather, be sure to weed, deadhead and mulch to conserve moisture.
If you have planted lilies, clip off the entire seed head once the blossoms start to fade. Also be sure to remove any streaked or yellow leaves.
To renew perennial geraniums, remove any old growth after the flowers fade.
Although it may be hot outside, fill gaps in the flower border with new container-grown plants.
To conserve water during dry times of the year, you can let your lawn go dormant for a short amount of time. It will become green again as soon as it rains. To ensure hydration, add mulch to all garden beds and give extra water to moisture-loving plants.
When mowing, don’t remove more than one-third the height of the grass when you mow.
Set your mower height higher to keep the grass higher to choke out weeds
To preserve flavor of herbs like oregano and basil, clip off the flowers as soon as they form.

August

If you have planted roses, stop fertilizing for the rest of the season to get them tough for winter.
Remove marigold blossoms as soon as they fade to prevent fungal disease and to encourage blooms.
If you are growing muskmelon, set cans under them to support them and keep them away from the ground. Pick them as soon as they turn from green to tan or yellow and come easily off the vine.
If you find that the soil in your potted plants is beginning to pull away from the sides, water them slowly and repeatedly, and push the soil into place while it soaks up the moisture.

Sources: Midwest Living Magazine; Neil Dylla, master gardener at Northwestern Health Sciences University