There is much beauty in the late spring gardens of the central San Joaquin Valley.

Tasks

• Sometimes gardeners need to accept a small amount of pest damage to plants. Consider planting an “extra” tomato plant for the hornworms, which will become important pollinators. Or plant a decoy nasturtium to lure aphids away from your more important plants.
• Instead of trying to kill insects, learn which ones are beneficial and protect them by avoiding the use of synthetic insecticides.
• Water and mow lawn. Set mower blades higher to shade out weeds and keep roots cool.

Pruning

• Pinch the tips out of chrysanthemums and rapidly growing annuals to encourage denser growth and more blooms.
• Prune azaleas, lilac, camellias, deciduous magnolia, dogwood, Indian hawthorn, spirea, forsythia and flowering quince as they finish blooming.

Fertilizing

• Fertilize fall planted shrubs and ground cover, remembering that a little used more often is better than a lot at one time.
• Do not over-fertilize. Excessive fertilization leads to contamination of waterways and excessive plant growth that requires more water.

Planting

Spring planting ends this month. Get things into the ground before hot weather sets in.

• Plant annuals and perennials for spots of seasonal color.
• Perennials: Artemisia, yarrow (Achillea), dianthus, plant from seed.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers:  gladiolus.
• Fruits and vegetables: beans, snap beans, potatoes, corn.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon), Photinia, Toyon (Heteromeles).
• Annuals: floss flower (Ageratum), strawflower (Helichrysum), zinnia.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: yarrow (Achillea), alstroemeria, snapdragon (Antirrhinum), dianthus, fringe flower (Loropetalum).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: brodiaea, amaryllis (Hippeastrum).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: violet trumpet vine (Clytostoma), Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis).
• Fruits and vegetables: artichokes, beans, peas, strawberries.

Things to ponder

• Do a special container planting of red, white, and blue flowers now to celebrate Independence Day on July 4.
• Thin vegetable seedlings started outside last month. Try cutting to thin rather than pulling, so you do not disturb the soil.