Many gardeners think of Memorial Day as the cutoff for planting in the garden, but that’s not the case! There is still plenty of time to plant in June for strong, healthy plants and vibrant blooms this season. Besides planting, there are some important steps for garden care in June. We'll outline these by region, focusing on the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and West, as well as give some of our favorite flowers for June planting.

 

Our Spring Into Summer Mix is great for June planting. It has 49 heat-tolerant species that bloom all season long.

Planting Wildflowers

Annual wildflowers can be seeded on the later side of the planting season to enjoy a round of blooms as other plants begin to fade. Annual wildflowers planted now will bloom a little bit later in the season, extending your garden into the fall. Marigolds, Cosmos, Zinnias, and Sunflowers are perfect examples – they usually burn out by late summer, but if planted now will last well past Labor Day, offering up a rainbow of late-season blooms.

Tips For Planting Wildflowers In Late Spring & Summer:

• It will be important to keep your seeds and soil well-watered for the first 4-6 weeks.
• In warm, dry areas, as the weather heats up, it can help to plan your planting around rain in the forecast.

Our specially formulated Spring Into Summer Wildflower Seed Mix is designed for June planting. It has over 40 species, primarily annual wildfloweres, that are heat tolerant. These flowers will blooming just weeks after planting and last well into the fall. If you're seeing bare spots in your garden or meadow, this mixture is the perfect solution for easy, spectacular color this year. Our one-of-a-kind mix is available for a limtied time only each spring season. 

Perennial and biennial wildflowers need a full season to establish themselves in your garden or meadow before they bloom. By planting in June, you’ll be giving these seeds an entire season to get settled before winter sets in, ensuring strong plants that will burst with color the following spring. Shop the right wildflower seeds for your area!

Learn More: How To Grow Wildflowers

 

Planting Perennials and Bulbs

Planting perennials in June really depends on where you live. Here in the northeast, we still have plenty of time to get perennials in the garden as our ground temperatures have recently warmed and it’s still going down to the 50’s at night. Depending on your hardiness zone, you may want to hold off until the fall planting season to add perennials to the garden. 

Summer-Blooming Bulbs such as Dahlias, Gladiolus, Canna Lilies and more are actually tropical, meaning they thrive in hot climates with full sun. This makes them a great candidate for summer planting, but just make sure you have enough time before the frost for these beauties to grow and bloom.

A Second Season of Vegetables

Although June is too late to plant long-season varieties such as Tomatoes and Eggplant from seed, you can still plant Basil, Carrots, Beets, Lettuce and more for a second harvest in the vegetable garden. In fact, many lettuce varieties can be sown throughout the season for multiple harvests.

Planning and Garden Design

As your gardens fill in and take their shape in June, this is a perfect month to walk around and assess your gardens. Are there spots where you could use more height, color, or fragrance? Did your daylilies multiply the past year and are they too large? Now is the time to take note of this to add more varieties to the garden and also identify which varieties need to be divided or replanted in the fall.

June Gardening Tips By Region

June is often the month when gardens start really filling in and becoming lush, offering up plentiful blooms and interest. That usually means that June is also an important month to be maintaining and working in the garden!

Here are several things everyone should be doing in June - in any location.

• Weed regularly. It’s best to spend a few minutes several times a week weeding than letting it build up and become overwhelming.
• Work in the early morning or early evening. June can be quite hot in many parts of the country, so try to get out in the garden in the coolest parts of the morning or in the early evening.
• Keep new plants watered regularly. Water the root systems in the early morning, avoiding foliage, to help prevent burning.
• Apply mid-season fertilizer if needed.
• Deadhead annuals as they finish blooming to promote long-lasting flowering.

June Gardening In The Northeast

In the Northeast, June is often the true awakening of the garden, and many gardeners don’t get around to planting until the beginning of the month. Here are some garden chores for the Northeast in June:

• Add tender annual wildflowers and bulbs to the garden once the danger of frost has passed.
• Deadhead any spent spring-flowering bulbs like Daffodils and Tulips, leaving most of the foliage in tact until they die back.
• Weed and add mulch to garden beds as needed.
• Give your houseplants a much-needed dose of sunlight and bring them outdoors for the summer.
• Make sure plants that need support or trellises — like Clematis and Peonies — have these in the beginning of the season.
• Edge beds if necessary for a clean look.

June Gardening In The Southeast

June temperatures in the Southeast can be high, so there are several things to keep up with in the June garden:

• Water, water, water (when possible)! Water the root systems in the early morning, avoiding foliage, to help prevent burning. If you have water restrictions in your area, choose one day per week to give everything a good soaking.
• Fertilize any potted annuals or houseplants that are outside to help promote strong, healthy growth and blooms.
• Raise the height of your lawn mower by one inch. Cutting your grass a little higher in June will help your lawn tolerate the heat and dry weather.
• Deadhead long-lasting annuals like Marigolds, Geranium, and Zinnia to promote more blooms.

June Gardening In The Midwest

The Midwest often has a cool spring, with June being the real start of the gardening season. Here is what to do in your garden in June:

• Add tender annual wildflowers and bulbs to the garden once the danger of frost has passed.
• Give your houseplants a much-needed dose of sunlight and bring them outdoors for the summer.
• Prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs as they finish blooming.
• Weed and add mulch to garden beds as needed.
• Make sure plants that need support or trellises — like Clematis and Peonies — have these in the beginning of the season.
• Deadhead any spent spring-flowering bulbs like Daffodils and Tulips, leaving most of the foliage in tact until they die back

June Gardening In The West

Depending on your area, the Western part of the country can be just warming up in June, or have been warm for months. Here are some things you can do in the garden in June:

• Prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs as they finish blooming.
• Add organic mulch to your garden beds to help retain moisture.
• Add tender annual wildflowers and bulbs to the garden once the danger of frost has passed.
• Keep up with weeds by heading out into the garden at least once per week. This is important as weeds take away important nutrients from your plants.
• Make sure to water potted plants and raised beds frequently; they tend to dry out quicker than in-ground gardens.
• Give your houseplants a much-needed dose of sunlight and bring them outdoors for the summer.

The Summer Solstice In June

We enjoy the longest day of the year in June! June is one of the busiest and most fun times in the garden. With just a little work and planting, you'll be able to enjoy a lush, flowering garden well through the fall months.

June also means some of the strongest sun we'll have all summer long. This is a great time to think about ways you can help conserve water in your garden. Does your mulch need a refresher? If you're living in a drought-prone area, you may want to think about slowly overhauling your garden and adding in low-maintenance, drought-tolerant varieties that don't require a ton of supplemental water. Daylilies, Sedum, Lavender, and Coreopsis are some of our favorite perennials that are sun-loving, drought tolerant and low maintenance.