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June Landscaping and Gardening Tips

June 27, 2011

Backyard LandscapingSummer will be here any minute, and if you’re like most Portland-area homeowners you’ve already got a good idea of what you’d like your yard or garden to look like this summer. When it comes to landscaping, Beaverton and surrounding homeowners often spend months planning and preparing for summer activity.

Once you have your landscaping designs in order, here are five tips to keep in mind when getting out into your yard this month.

1. Tend your grass. This may seem like a no-brainer, but there’s actually quite a bit of science that goes into a well-maintained lawn. Taller lawns need less watering and fertilizing, so many landscaping companies recommend setting your mower at about three inches. Water your lawn evenly and deeply two or three times a week instead of every day – this will encourage a healthier root system.

2. Plant late bloomers. There are a number of late-summer and early-fall vegetables you should get in the ground this month. They include: beets, radishes, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and others. Make sure to water evenly and regularly, as this reduces bitterness in lettuce and carrots. If you want your vegetables to come up late this summer, plant some cabbage, broccoli and lettuce in cool, partly shaded areas, as this encourages late growth.

3. Prune the bulbs. Flowers are an important part of most landscaping designs, but they need some summer care. Remove the spent flowers from bulbs after they’ve bloomed, and remove leaves only when they’ve turned yellow and started to dry.

4. Watch for bugs. No one likes to spray for bugs, but if you’re going to do it, now is the time. Aphids and other insects are active this month and will start to cause damage to your landscaping. Beaverton homeowners who prefer green landscaping methods can apply an all-natural or eco-friendly spray to protect their plants.

5. Feed your flowers. Fertilizing such flowers as bulbs and azaleas after they’ve bloomed will encourage new flowers and a stronger root system.

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