During the hot months, enjoy the garden in the morning with a cold drink. (Photo: Pixabay)

Tasks

• Protect developing tree fruit from birds and squirrels by placing netting over trees.
• Continue deep watering of fruit trees and citrus to insure a good fruit crop.
• Tie and train climbing plants, including those in the vegetable garden.
• Apply pesticides only when daytime temperatures do not exceed 95°F to prevent injury to foliage. Protect neighboring plants with a cardboard shield.

Pruning

• Deadhead annuals and perennials to encourage new growth and blooms.
• Divide iris every two to four years and save new rhizomes to replant in late summer.

Fertilizing

• Lightly fertilize actively growing plants.
• Give special attention to container plants.

Planting

• Summer heat can be truly formidable in the San Joaquin Valley.  Delay unnecessary planting until cooler weather.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: naked lady (Amaryllis belladonna).

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: lily of the Nile (Agapanthus), floss flower (Ageratum), amaranthus, aster, crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: naked lady (Amaryllis belladonna), canna.
• Fruits and vegetables: apricots, beans, blackberries, corn, cucumber, peaches.

Things to ponder

• The San Joaquin Valley is largely made up of zones 8 and 9. Consider this when selecting plants for your garden.
• Permeable hardscapes allow water from irrigation or rainfall to stay in place in the landscape, rather than running off into gutters and storm drains. Examples include pavers and bricks without mortar or grout, decks, crushed rock or gravel.

Many vegetable and ornamental plants are susceptible to dodder, a parasitic weed that grows as twining threadlike stems over their hosts. If you have dodder, find a link below to UC IPM guidelines for control. (Photo: UC IPM)

Tasks

• Water camellias regularly to avoid bud drop during bloom season.
• If you have nematode problems in your vegetable garden, summer is the time to solarize your soil.
• Rinse dust off foliage, especially the underside of leaves, to discourage spider mites.
• Wash white flies off plants with insecticidal soap.

Pruning

• Cut spent canes of caneberries to the ground after harvest. Attach new canes to the trellis for next year's crop.

Fertilizing

• Apply high potassium fertilizer once fruit starts to form on pepper, cucumber, sunflower and tomato plants.

Planting

• A few winter vegetables may be planted by seed this month. Consult the California Garden Web (https://cagardenweb.ucanr.edu/) for more information.
• If not already done, pumpkins may be planted in July.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: Russian sage (Perovskia), annual phlox (Phlox drummondii), moss rose (Portulaca), gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia), marigold (Tagetes), zinnia.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: daylily (Hemerocallis), tiger lily (Tigridia).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: lantana, oleander (Nerium).
• Fruits and vegetables: peaches, plum, tomatoes, zucchini.

Things to ponder:

• Rebuild water basins around deep-rooted permanent plants; water deeply and less frequently.
• Watch for the bright orange twining stems of the parasitic plant dodder. Remove any affected plants.

Carpenteria californica is a beautiful flowering evergreen shrub native to the Sierra Nevada foothills. It does well planted in a shady area on the Valley floor. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Tasks

• Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to control petunia bud worms and tomato horn worms.
• Watch for pests and treat if necessary.
• Be sure lawns are getting enough water.
• Consider moving a plant if it does not thrive where it is planted.

Pruning

• Prune apricot, oleander and olive trees at least six weeks before the onset of fall rains to minimize fungus infection of pruning wounds.

Fertilizing

• Fertilize almond, apple, peach and nectarine trees.

Planting

• Resist the temptation to plant more plants in the garden, as they are not likely to survive the summer heat.
• A few winter vegetables may be planted from seed this month. Consult the California Garden Web for more information.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: sunflower (Helianthus), strawflower (Helichrysum), impatiens, annual mallow (Lavatera).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: gayfeather (Liatris), lily (Lilium asiatic hybrid).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: California wild lilac (Ceanothus), crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia).
• Fruits and vegetables: nectarine, okra, peach, pepper.

Things to ponder

• Check irrigation timers for compliance with the current watering schedule. Replace broken, leaking or misaligned sprinklers to eliminate overspray onto sidewalks and driveways.
• Mulch will help protect plants from harsh sun and drying winds.

Provide a water source in the garden to attract birds and other pollinators. (Photo: PxHere)

Tasks

• Control weeds before they flower, produce seed and multiply.
• If citrus trees have scale, mites or thrips, spray with summer weight horticultural oil.
• Treat petunia, geranium and tomato plants with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to control budworm and tomato hornworm.
• Deeply water fruit and nut trees. Ideally, mature fruit trees should be irrigated to a depth of 3 feet.

Pruning

• Pinch back new growth to improve plant shape and encourage bloom.
• If bush training fruit trees to a 5- to 6-foot bush, do not miss this pruning in June.

Fertilizing

• Do not fertilize cool-season lawns (fescues, bluegrass, perennial rye) during hot summer months.
• Avoid fertilizing herbs as too much fertilizer reduces flavor and fragrance.

Planting

• If your needs are such that you must plant now, remember to provide ample water and temporary shade.
• Fruits and vegetables: corn, parsnips, plant from seed.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: lisianthus (Eustoma), blanket flower (Gaillardia), gazania, globe amaranth (Gomphrena).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: gladiolus, amaryllis (Hippeastrum).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: crape myrtle.
• Fruits and vegetables: boysenberries, eggplant, melons.

Things to ponder

• A small water feature, such as a recirculating fountain or a shallow pebble-filled bowl, provides drinking water for thirsty birds, butterflies and other garden wildlife. Regularly replenish the water and check for leaks.