RIDGEFIELD, CT — June would be a great month for Ridgefield gardeners to pop a cold one and kick back — were it not for those annoying Japanese beetles and overachieving tomato plants.
But first, make sure you are with the mulch program, said Lisa Chuma, a member of The Ridgefield Garden Club.
“Get that down ASAP. As I said last month, mainly it looks good, but also it keeps the moisture in and keeps the weeds out.”
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If you’re already down with the mulch, try not to disturb it. At this stage, it’s best to pull out weeds individually rather than rake them out, Chuma said.
Depending upon the heat and the rainfall, Ridgefield gardeners should be looking at watering their blooms about two to three times a week in June.
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For that, a soaker hose is the way to go, Chuma said.
“The water’s not going up into the air and just drying up before he even hits your plants. It’s getting right to the roots.”
With everything already in the ground by June, the attention of many Ridgefield gardeners is on the pests who regard their months of hard work as an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Deer are less active in Ridgefield gardens with the onset of summer, Chuma said, as “they have a lot of other things that they can be eating now they don’t have to come and eat what’s in our yards.”
Insects are a different kettle of fish entirely. Chuma said she has been stymied by Japanese beetles — which feed on leaves, flowers and damaged fruit — and she’s in good company. In its guide to battling the beast, the US Department of Agriculture warns that, “No quick fixes can rid homeowners of the Japanese beetle once it becomes established.”
Pretty much the only thing to like about Japanese beetles is that they die quickly. They emerge from the ground in late May to early June, and they are most active over a 4-6 week period beginning in late June.
Gardeners will also get an indication this month that some of their plantings are becoming too successful, and June is the time to address that as well.
It’s highly likely your tomatoes need to be tamed.
“Allow them to grow, but keep them under control,” Chuma advised. “Otherwise they’ll just flop on top of each other or on themselves.”
Tomatoes should be tied up on a trellis or stake, and pruned energetically. The plants produce a lot of leaves, which can lead to mildew, said Chuma. “You want to prune off some of those lower leaves, especially if they are touching the ground. Last year, I had a lot of success with my tomatoes by leaving the suckers and pruning off the big branches.”
The most important thing to keep in mind about June gardening, is not to work too hard.
“This is the time to enjoy everything,” Chuma said. “Enjoy the weather, enjoy the flowers blooming, enjoy all the critters in your yard because of your garden. It’s the best time.”
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