MARK CULLEN: Busy in the Garden

This month I have great plans to be busy in the garden.  This list is a quick summary of what To Do in your garden.

a.  This is a great time to plant, after all.  And stake.  I recommend that you acquire some stakes and bang them into the ground around your tall growing perennials.  Better still, look for the new  heavy gage ‘link stakes’ that make supporting peonies, delphiniums and other tall growers easy ….they are Canadian made and last a life time. (watch the video)

b. Your tomatoes need support too….. I am using the new, aluminum twisted ‘spiral’ stakes that do not require the plant to be tied.  Get to this job before the tomatoes begin to bloom as you will double your crop as a result (less susceptible to disease and insects: more blossoms and fruit). (watch the video)

c. June is ‘mulch month’.  By laying down a 5 cm layer of shredded cedar or pine bark you will eliminate 95% of your weeds in the first year.  And reduce your watering by 50 to 70%.  June is the perfect month to do this as most of your planting has been done and the ‘watering’ season is just ahead of us, when the heat and drying winds come. (watch the video)

d. If you have not put your annuals, perennials or veggies into the ground yet the good news is that it is not too late for most anything.  This week I will put another row of green and yellow snap beans in for late summer harvest.  I will sow another patch of carrots and radishes.  I will finally sow the thousands of sunflower seeds that I purchased from Veseys seeds in P.E.I.

e. Your flower gardens, including hanging baskets, window boxes and other containers will still produce lots of colour with mid June planting.  And the really good news is that the roses, perennials, trees, flowering shrubs and evergreens that you have been meaning to plant still can be.  All summer, for that matter.  Just make sure that you prepare the soil well and water after planting.

Keep your knees dirty.

Mark Cullen appears on Canada AM every Wednesday morning at 8:40.  He is spokesperson for Home Hardware Lawn and Garden.  Sign up for his free monthly newsletter at www.markcullen.com.