Grasscycling involves leaving grass clippings on the lawn, rather than collecting them in a bag and sending them off the property. (Photo: Cheryl Reynolds, UC IPM)

“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece” ~ Claude Monet

Tasks

• Compost weed-free grass clippings and other thorn and disease-free garden waste.
• Better yet, start a grasscycling program for an existing lawn.

Pruning

• Shape hedges.
• Do not apply any treatments to pruning cuts or other wounds because these materials are ineffective and often are detrimental. Chip yard waste and use as mulch or as an addition to the compost pile.

Fertilizing

• Do not overfertilize. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer container. Excessive fertilization leads to contamination of waterways and lush plant growth that requires more water.

Planting

• Plant annual summer herbs and vegetables at two-week intervals for successive crops.
• Annuals: Black-eyed susan vine (Thunbergia), sunflower (Helianthus), Verbena, Zinnia.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: gladiolus.
• Fruits and vegetables: Last chance to plant a late crop of chard, spinach and lettuce.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: Shoestring acacia (Acacia stenophylla), Bottlebrush (Callistemon), Sedge (Carex), Smoke tree (Cotinus).
• Perennials: Yarrow (Achillea), Artemisia, Fortnight lily (Dietes), Gazania, Lilyturf (Liriope).

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: alstroemeria, snapdragon (antirrhinum), columbine, fibrous begonia.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: anemone, freesia.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: acacia, aesculus, camellia, catalpa, California wild lilac (Ceanothus).
• Fruits and vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, grapefruit, kumquat

Things to ponder

If oakworms, redhumped caterpillars, or cabbage loopers are present, spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Repeat every 7 to 10 days for several weeks as a preventative measure.

Begin planting summer herbs and vegetables in the garden. (Photo: Grégory Roose, Pixabay)

In a drought year, consider native plants suitable for our area.

Tasks

• Remove thatch and aerate warm-season lawns (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine) to allow better water penetration.
• Water citrus, being careful not to overwater.
• Hand pick snails and slugs daily or use bait. Avoid baits that contain metaldehyde, as they are toxic to all vertebrates.

Pruning

• Azaleas and camellias as they finish blooming.
• Finish pruning deciduous trees.

Fertilizing

• Acid-loving plants (such as azaleas and camellias) after bloom, also annuals.
• Cool season turf, if fall fertilization was missed.

Planting

• Plant annual summer herbs and vegetables at two-week intervals for successive crops.
• Annuals: Begonia (fibrous or wax), sunflower (Helianthus), marigold (Tagetes).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: Sternbergia.
• Fruits and vegetables: onions (green), parsnips, potatoes (white).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: Toyon (Heteromeles), Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus), citrus, Euonymus.
• Perennials: alstroemeria, columbine (Aquilegia), false spiraea (Astilbe), deer fern (Blechnum spicant), dianthus.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: Armeria, snapdragon (antirrhinum), columbine (Aquilegia), fibrous begonia (Semperflorens).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: anemone, freesia.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: acacia, aesculus, camellia, California wild lilac (Ceanothus).
• Fruits and vegetables: asparagus, grapefruit, kumquat, mushrooms.

Things to ponder

• Pull weeds as they begin to emerge to prevent having to spray later.
• When choosing plants in cell packs from the nursery, be sure roots are not protruding from the bottom of the container.
• Consider composting to cut down on green waste.

Don't let mosquitos breed in your garden. Drain plant saucers, bird baths, fire pits, children's toys, buckets and anything where rain or irrigation water has collected. (Photo: PxHere)

Tasks

• Clean up drying grasses within 30 feet of structures for fire prevention. This also encourages spring growth.
• Deeply water fruit and nut trees. Ideally, mature fruit trees should be irrigated to a depth of three feet.
• Blast aphids from plants with a spray of water or insecticidal soap.

Pruning

• Pinch back perennials and fast-growing annuals to encourage dense growth and more blooms. 
• Thin vegetable seedlings by pinching or clipping, rather than pulling them out of the soil, which will damage neighboring plants.
• Prune deciduous magnolia, dogwood, forsythia, lilac, azalea, spiraea, camellia and flowering quince after bloom.

Fertilizing

• Roses, citrus, container plants and berries with slow-release fertilizer.
• Acid-loving plants such as camellias and azaleas after bloom.

Planting

• Plant annuals and perennials while it is still cool so they can establish a good root system before the weather becomes really hot.
• Annuals: Floss flower (Ageratum), bachelor's button (Centaurea), bee balm (Monarda).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: gladiolus.
• Fruits and vegetables: transplant cucumbers and peppers.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: Cedar (cedrus), desert willow (Chilopsis), rose of Sharon (Hibiscus), trumpet vine (Clytostoma).

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: calendula, Leucanthemum paludosum, larkspur (Consolida), delphinium.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: iris.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: almond, redbud, dogwood (Cornus), hawthorn (Crataegus), heather (Erica), grevillea.
• Fruits and vegetables: artichoke, lemon, lime, mandarin orange, peas.

Things to ponder

• Mosquitos can breed in even very small quantities of standing water. Don't give them a home in your garden!
• Develop a drought plan for your garden in case water restrictions are implemented.

Now is the time to plant herbs in your garden. With a little irrigation, you will have an abundance of fresh herbs to season summer cooking and canning. (Photo: Jill Wellington, Pixabay)

Tasks

• Check drip systems, sprinklers, and other irrigation systems for repair needs.
• Flush irrigation lines and inspect sprinkler valves for proper operation.
• Protect transplants from cutworms by putting a barrier, such as a paper collar, around the stem.

Pruning

• Deadhead winter annuals to prolong bloom.
• For bulbs, deadhead spent blooms only. Leave foliage and stalk to wither naturally to provide nutrients for next year's flowers.

Fertilizing 

• Fertilize stone fruit, pear, apple, and nut trees and berries with one third of the needed annual amount of fertilizer.
• Fertilize citrus when trees begin to bloom.

Planting

• Plant Easter lilies in full sun in outdoor beds after blossoms fade. They will bloom next May or early June.
• Annuals: alstromeria, Kangaroo paw (antigozanthos), and petunia, plant from seed.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: fairy lily (Zephyranthes).
• Fruits and vegetables: beets, chard, spinach, and turnips from seed.
• Perennials: coral bells(Heuchera), maiden grass (Miscanthus), fountain grass (Pennisetum), sage (Salvia), pincushion flower (Scabiosa).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: clematis, dogwood (Cornus), rockrose (Cistus), hop bush (Dodonaea viscosa), cotoneaster.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: candytuft, iris, lobelia, forget-me-not (Myosotis), poppy.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: ranunculus, tulip.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: orange, rhaphiolepis, rhododendron, lilac (Syringa vulgaris).
• Fruits and vegetables: potatoes, radish, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry, turnip.

Things to ponder

• Give new plants ample water until root system is established.
• Bermudagrass will begin to green up as the soil temperature rises.