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This week is my green week so I spent time last weekend between the rain drops trying to weed, deadhead and cut back as much as I could to send off for composting.
This time of year, I feel like the garden is getting away from me and my to do list is so long.
It’s best to start with the easy things and work from there. My first project was to cut down an overgrown shrub and get it tied up to go to the curb. Then I started dead-heading the garden. I cut back the peonies, iris, daffodils and tulips and pull out the big weeds.
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Once I have gotten around the garden once then I turn around and work my way through the garden going in the reverse direction to catch anything I missed the first time.
I weed and deadhead almost daily for about 30 minutes. It is how I decompress. I put my phone on silent and take this bit of time for just me. I stop to smell the roses, and the lilies and even the dirt.
I was out to one of my favourite garden centres last weekend and the veggie tables were getting down so lots of folks might be trying to grow their own. This can be so rewarding but can also be a bit overwhelming if you are not ready to put the time in to keep as many weeds out of the garden as possible. Most weeds are super heavy feeders and if you are not careful, all the water and fertilizer you are applying for your vegetables can be used up by the weeds. Try to work 15 to 30 minutes every night and this will help you stay ahead of the weeds and also make you aware if you have any insect or pest problems.
It is not always necessary to cultivate the soil between the plants each time you are in the garden, because when you cultivate you introduce weed seeds to light and moisture, which helps them germinated. Try only cultivating once a week.
June has to be one of my favourite months in the garden with peonies, dogwood, iris, ninebark, gas plant and roses in bloom. The challenge is to keep the colour going right thought to fall.
Denise Hodgins is a professional gardening coach in London. Send your questions to coaching@diggendirtdesigns.com
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