CENTRAL INDIANA GARDEN CALENDAR FOR JUNE

This monthly garden calendar is provided by Steve Mayer, a horticulture educator with Purdue Extension - Marion County.  The numbers in parentheses in the calendar entries refer to related Purdue Extension publications.  To obtain the publications, contact the Extension Office (317-275-9292 or e-mail: ) or go online:
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/menu.htm

FIRST WEEK

* Control Canada thistle in landscape beds with glyphosate after the first flower buds are formed but before the first flowers open.

* To help reduce ozone formation, do not use gasoline-powered lawn mowers until after 6:00pm on declared Knozone Action Days. (www.knozone.com)

* Apply organic mulches to the vegetable garden.  Organic mulches applied earlier in cooler soils slow plant growth. (HO-32)

* Check plants weekly in June for newly hatched bagworms.  If found, treat with a biological insecticide such as Bt or spinosad. (E-27)

SECOND WEEK

* Mimosa webworm caterpillars attack honeylocust trees.  To prevent aesthetic loss, use an insecticide at the first sign of webbing and brown leaves. (E-11)

* It is not too late to plant pumpkins.  Many pumpkins take 90-120 days to mature. (HO-8)

* Control yellow nutsedge in the lawn this month before more tubers form to increase the problem.  Use Manage (halosulfuron) or Basagran (bentazon).  Control may take multiple years. (AGRY-98-04)

* Check squash and pumpkin plants regularly for clusters of tiny brown squash bug eggs.  If you find one or more egg masses per plant, treat after egg hatch with an insecticide. (E-30, E-21)

THIRD WEEK

* Begin weekly check for Japanese beetles.  Pick off and destroy early arriving beetles and initial foliage damage to help reduce chances of injury. (E-75)

* Do not raise the lawn mowing height for summer.  This can cause plant stress. (AY-8)

* Lightning can severely stress or kill trees.  Research shows additional water after a strike may assist the tree in absorbing nutrients.  Preventing pest problems may also help reduce stress. (FNR-FAQ-9)

* For squash vine borer problems, use two insecticide sprays about a week apart, beginning when vines start to run.  (E-30, E-21)

FOURTH WEEK

* White clover becomes more visible when flowering.  To reduce clover infestations, fertilize in September and November. (AY-9)

* If rhubarb plants are 4 or more years old, you can harvest up to 8-10 weeks if weak, spindly leaf stalks do not appear.  Then stop harvesting and fertilize. (HO-97)

* Moss thrives in low light conditions in the lawn where the grass does not grow well.  Improve turfgrass growth or replace the turf with ornamental shade loving plants. (AY-14, HO-222)

* Annual flowers may need additional applications of fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks. (HO-99)