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.