June is when your flower garden is ready to shine—but only if you play your cards right. A few smart hacks can supercharge your blooms and keep your beds bursting with color.
But beware: some common habits can actually sabotage your efforts. Discover 14 bloom-boosting tips and 3 outdated practices you’re better off ditching.
1. Water Deeply But Less Frequently
Morning watering sessions give your flowers the best chance to thrive in June’s heat. Instead of daily sprinkles that barely wet the surface, deep watering 2-3 times weekly encourages roots to grow downward seeking moisture.
This creates stronger plants that can better survive hot spells. Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to deliver water directly to the root zone while keeping foliage dry, which helps prevent fungal diseases that love June’s humidity.
2. Deadhead Spent Blooms Regularly
Snipping off faded flowers prevents plants from wasting energy on seed production. Grab your garden scissors and make a daily habit of removing wilted blooms during your morning garden walk.
Many annuals and perennials will reward your efforts with a fresh flush of flowers. For plants like daisies and coneflowers, cut the stem back to the next leaf or bud. Roses benefit from deadheading too – cut just above an outward-facing five-leaf set to encourage bushy growth.
3. Apply Mulch To Retain Moisture
A fresh 2-3 inch layer of mulch works wonders in June gardens. Organic options like shredded bark, compost, or straw help soil retain precious moisture during hot days and suppress persistent weeds trying to compete with your flowers.
Keep the mulch from touching plant stems directly to prevent rot issues. As an added bonus, mulch gradually breaks down to feed your soil with nutrients. The earthworms will thank you by aerating the soil as they process the decomposing mulch.
4. Feed Flowering Plants With Phosphorus-Rich Fertilizer
June calls for a feeding boost to keep the flower show going strong. Look for fertilizers with a higher middle number (phosphorus) which promotes blooming rather than just leafy growth.
Liquid fertilizers work fast but need more frequent application. Slow-release granules provide steady nutrition throughout the month. Always water thoroughly before fertilizing to prevent burning roots in the summer heat. Follow package directions carefully – more isn’t better when it comes to plant food!
5. Stake Tall Flowers Before They Flop
June growth spurts can leave tall flowers vulnerable to summer storms. Get ahead of the game by staking delphiniums, lilies, dahlias and other top-heavy bloomers before they need it.
Bamboo stakes or metal supports should be placed while plants are still upright. Green twine blends in nicely as you loosely secure stems in a figure-eight pattern. For fuller plants like peonies, try circular support cages that allow the plant to grow through naturally while providing hidden structure.
6. Monitor For Pests And Diseases Daily
June’s warm weather brings unwelcome visitors to your garden party. Make a habit of checking leaf undersides for aphids, looking for holes from caterpillars, and spotting powdery mildew before it spreads.
Early detection means simpler solutions – often a strong spray of water knocks off aphids, while hand-picking larger pests works for small infestations. Keep a spray bottle with mild soap solution ready for stubborn bugs. Remember that some insects like ladybugs and bees are garden helpers – only target the troublemakers!
7. Prune Spring-Flowering Shrubs Now
After lilacs, forsythia, and other spring bloomers finish their show, June offers the perfect pruning window. These shrubs form next year’s flower buds during summer, so trimming now won’t sacrifice next spring’s display.
Remove up to one-third of old stems at the base to encourage fresh growth. Shape the plant by cutting just above outward-facing buds. Any dead or crossing branches should go first. Clean cuts with sharp tools heal quickly in June’s active growing season, minimizing stress on your flowering shrubs.
8. Plant Heat-Loving Annuals For Summer Color
Fill garden gaps with zinnia, marigold, and cosmos seedlings that thrive in June’s warmth. These fast-growing flowers provide instant color and keep blooming through summer’s heat when spring flowers fade.
Look for compact varieties for borders or taller types for cutting gardens. Plant in groups of odd numbers for natural-looking clusters. Water new transplants daily for the first week, then gradually reduce as their roots establish. Many summer annuals self-seed, giving you free plants next year if you leave some spent flowers in place.
9. Create Shade For Delicate Flowers
Some garden beauties like impatiens and fuchsias struggle in June’s intense sun. Temporary shade cloth suspended on stakes provides relief during the hottest hours without permanent garden changes.
Alternatively, place taller plants like sunflowers or cleome on the southern side to cast natural afternoon shadows. Even umbrellas or patio furniture can create protective pockets of shade. Container gardens have the advantage of mobility – simply slide pots to shadier spots during scorching afternoons.
10. Divide Overcrowded Spring Bulbs
Once foliage from spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips turns yellow, June presents the perfect opportunity for division. Carefully dig up crowded clumps, separate bulbs, and replant immediately with bulb tips pointing upward.
Space larger bulbs about 6 inches apart in groups for natural-looking drifts. Add bone meal to planting holes to provide phosphorus for root development. Don’t cut back yellowing foliage prematurely – those leaves are feeding the bulbs for next year’s flowers. Simply tuck them behind other plants until they naturally wither.
11. Harvest Herbs Before They Flower
Many flowering herbs like basil and oregano reach their flavor peak in June before they bloom. Regular harvesting encourages bushier growth and delays flowering, which changes the herb’s taste.
Morning harvesting captures the highest concentration of essential oils. Cut stems just above a leaf pair to promote branching. Bundle small harvests with twine and hang upside down in a dry, dark place for preservation. Flowering herbs aren’t wasted though – leave some blooms for pollinators who love their nectar.
12. Refresh Container Gardens With New Plantings
Container gardens often need a June makeover as spring bloomers fade. Pull spent plants and refresh potting mix with compost before adding heat-loving replacements like petunias or verbena.
Consider drought-tolerant options like portulaca and lantana for containers that dry quickly. Clustering pots creates humidity zones that benefit moisture-loving plants. Double-pot technique – placing a smaller pot inside a larger one with damp moss between – keeps roots cooler in summer heat.
13. Edge Garden Beds For A Clean Look
June’s rapid growth makes garden edges blur quickly. A clean edge between lawn and flower beds instantly improves your garden’s appearance and creates a maintenance barrier that slows grass invasion.
Use a half-moon edger to cut a 2-3 inch deep trench along bed perimeters. Remove grass and weeds completely from this zone. For permanent solutions, install brick, stone, or commercial edging. The gap also serves as a mulch containment system, preventing materials from spilling onto lawns during summer downpours.
14. Create A Pollinator Buffet With Native Flowers
June marks peak pollinator activity in most regions. Adding native flowers like coneflowers, bee balm, and black-eyed Susans attracts beneficial insects that improve garden productivity.
Group similar flowers in patches at least 3 feet wide to create visible “landing pads” for butterflies and bees. Include varieties with different bloom shapes to accommodate diverse pollinator mouth parts. A shallow water dish with stones provides drinking spots without drowning risks. Avoid using pesticides that harm these garden helpers.
15. DON’T Prune Spring-Flowering Perennials Too Early
Resist the urge to cut back spring bloomers like iris and peonies immediately after flowering. The foliage continues photosynthesizing throughout June, storing energy in roots for next year’s display.
Premature pruning weakens plants over time, resulting in fewer blooms next season. Instead, remove only spent flower stalks while leaving foliage intact until it naturally yellows later in summer. If appearance bothers you, strategically place summer bloomers in front to hide aging foliage while still allowing it to function.
16. DON’T Water On A Fixed Schedule
Calendar-based watering in June often leads to problems. Instead, check soil moisture by sticking your finger an inch deep – if it feels dry, water deeply; if still damp, wait another day.
Different areas of your garden have varying water needs based on plant types, sun exposure, and soil composition. Container gardens typically need daily June watering while established perennial beds might go several days between drinks. Weather patterns change water requirements too – adjust for rainfall and temperature fluctuations rather than sticking to rigid schedules.
17. DON’T Forget To Prepare For Vacation Absences
June vacations coincide with critical garden care periods. Before leaving, deep water all plants and apply a fresh mulch layer to retain moisture. Move container gardens to shadier locations to reduce water needs.
Automatic irrigation systems with timers provide consistent care, but need testing before you depart. Alternatively, gather containers into self-watering groups using capillary mats or wicking systems. A trusted garden-savvy friend with clear instructions makes the best backup plan. Consider delaying new plantings until after your return to avoid establishment stress.