Trap snails and slugs beneath boards or flower pots. Collect frequently, smash and dispose. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Tasks

• Water and mow lawn. Set mower higher to shade out weeds and keep roots cool.
• Be cautious when applying sulfur to grapevines for mildew control. Damage occurs above 100°F.
• Trap, hand-pick or bait snails, slugs and earwigs. (See UC IPM pest note on snail and slug management.)
• Deeply water fruit and nut trees. Ideally, mature fruit trees should be irrigated to a depth of 3 feet.

Pruning

• Remove any unwanted sprouts on trunks of trees.
• Thin fruit trees allowing 4 to 6 inches between fruit.
• Deadhead roses to encourage repeat blooming.
• Remove dead branches from shrubs and trees.

Fertilizing

• Feed bedding plants with all-purpose fertilizer high in phosphorus.
• Feed vegetables and lawns with all-purpose fertilizer.

Planting

• Spring planting season is over. Anything planted this month will need careful watering.
• Fill in bare spots from earlier plantings of perennials and annuals.
• This is the last opportunity to transplant young plants.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: California poppy (Eschscholzia), Lantana.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: squill (Seilla), Iris, amaryllis (Hippeastrum).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: oleander (Nerium), violet trump vine (Clytostoma).
• Fruits and vegetables: melon, asparagus, cucumber.

Things to ponder

• A garden of native flowering plants requires less water, fertilizer and energy than a traditional landscape.
• Weed seeds may survive for many years; many common weed seeds will germinate after 20 years.