Summary: With spring retired, the landscape needs some tuning for summer and fall blooms. Roses need care, and summer lilies can be put out.
Spring is over in the South and summer is almost here. Sow seeds or put out plants of summer and fall blooming stocks and set out other small plants to cover bulb beds. Bonemeal should be spread over all bulb plantings as soon as the bulb flowers fade. Never cut off the green leaves; if you do, there will be no flowers next year.
Taking Cuttings While Pruning
Take cuttings from shrubs as you prune them. Cut off all leaves and use only the hardwood stems. Tie the cuttings in bundles and place them in a trench where water can be supplied easily. When new leaf buds show, rooting will have started and the cuttings can be lifted and planted. Cuttings of evergreens should be rooted individually. Slant the stems in a trench in half shade and keep watered. Layering is possible with hawthorn, climbing roses and other low-growing plants. It’s always fun to see small new plants develop from old.
June Rose Care
Roses need care now. Remove dead flowers as they fade and keep tall shoots cut down. New stems with flower buds will continue to develop, if this is done, Spray for insects with malathion. It is an easy way to discourage aphids. Visit nurseries and display gardens to see the new roses in bloom and plan to buy new plants in fall. Mission Bells and Fashion are among the loveliest in my collection.
Summer Lilies
Summer Lilies are charming and can still be put out. Zephyranthes grandiilora (Z. carinata) is called the rain and thunder lily here because its soft rose blossoms appear after every rain. It is dainty and beautiful anywhere. Lycoris radiata is the fall-blooming spider lily that entirely disappears from view during the summer months. Later its stems reappear. without the foliage, each tipped with a fine cluster of beautiful flowers. In spring, foliage marks the location of the bulbs, but later stakes will be needed to protect them from unintentional damage while digging.
Plumbago A Summer Flower
Plumbago Capensis is another worth-while summer flower. It makes wide clumps that live from year to year unless you allow winter cold to cut them down. The beautiful sky blue flowers give a fine touch to red and pink crepe myrtles and roses.
The mountains are covered with mountain laurel and the heavy sprays of creamy white pepper hush. Crepe myrtle is everywhere and will continue blossoming until September.
by L Julia
