June Tips & Events for Santa Clara County
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“There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments.”
— Janet Kilburn Phillips
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Soil temperature
Mulching
gets a lot of credit for holding in moisture and reducing weed germination, yet it can also help control soil temperature. Mulches moderate soil temperature, preventing fast temperature changes at the roots of plants. This improves plant growth. Organic mulches, like leaves, bark, or chipped wood, keep soil cooler. Black plastic mulch increases soil temperature. Regardless of the
type of mulch
you’re using, your garden soil should be getting warmer in June. Thanks to higher temperatures and more daylight hours, the soil should now be warm enough for summer planting.
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Protecting Bees
Scientists worldwide continue to research and debate the various factors contributing to the decline in bee populations. Pesticides have been considered among the culprits. Neonicotinoids are broad-spectrum pesticides that affect the nervous systems of insects. When sprayed on plants, they spread throughout the plants' tissues and last for some time. You can avoid using
these pesticides
or avoid using them during bloom when bees are gathering pollen and nectar. Nurseries are starting to label and phase out plants treated with neonics. If you are concerned about the ornamental plants you buy, you can choose ones grown without neonics.
Photo: UC ANR Repository, Kathy Keatley Garvey
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Summer or Winter?
Now is a good time to plant squash in your garden, either from seed or from transplant. And, yes, you plant both summer squash and winter squash now.
Winter squash
just means that they can be stored over the winter. They develop a tough outer rind and have mature seeds when harvested. Pumpkins, acorn squash, and butternut squash all fall into this category and will keep for months after being picked.
Summer squash
are eaten when the skin is still soft. Examples are crookneck squash, chayote, and zucchini. Remember to eat your zucchini when they are small and tender and haven’t turned into baseball bats!
Photo: Summer squash, UC ANR Repository
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June Drop
Many gardeners get concerned when they see lots of small fruit on the ground around the June time frame. This is nature saying that it can only support so many pieces of fruit on a tree. You can also assist on your cultivated trees. Stone fruits like apricots and peaches should be spaced a few inches apart on the branch. Thin pome fruits like apples and Asian pears to two or three per bunch. If the fruit is not thinned, then individual fruits may end up smaller as they divide the tree’s energy among themselves. They may also rot as they touch each other, or they may cause branches to break from the weight.
Photo: peach fruit thinning, California Master Gardener Handbook
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June Bug?
Are you starting to see brown beetles flying around your porch light and elsewhere? Here in Northern California it is likely the adult beetle form of the masked chafer. In the grub, or larval, stage it can do damage to lawns by feeding on the roots and creating dead patches. More dramatic damage occurs when raccoons and crows dig up the lawn in search of the grubs. The
UC Masked Chafer Pest Note
has more information.
Photo: adult masked chafer, UC ANR, Jack Kelly Clark
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Fire Blight
Fire Blight is a common problem on pear and apple trees. It shows up in late spring and early summer resulting in blackened branches and twigs that have a scorched look. Ideal conditions for spreading include humid weather with daytime temperatures from 75° to 85°F, especially when night temperatures stay above 55°F. The best defense is to remove diseased twigs and branches at the first sign of the disease. Prune the infected branch about 8-12 inches below the visible damage. The
UC Pest Note on Fire Blight
contains photos and more information.
Image: pear fruit and leaves killed by fire blight, UC ANR, Jack Kelly Clark
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Visit or subscribe to
our blog
for longer articles on seasonal topics
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Upcoming Events
We offer lots of free or low-cost gardening talks, workshops, and courses all over the county, as well as hosting information tables at many community events. Please join us and bring your questions!
Photo: container gardening presentation at Martial Cottle Park (Tuan Hoang)
Palo Alto Demo Garden Open Saturdays from 10 a.m.–noon (May–Oct)
Come see what we're growing at our
edible and water wise gardens
and get answers to your gardening questions. Feel free to bring plant pests or disease samples for identification. We're located at Eleanor Pardee Community Gardens, on Center Road near Martin Street,
Palo Alto
(v
iew map
).
Sat, Jun 09, 9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.,
Gardening with Kids
, St. Louise Hospital Teaching & Demo Garden, 9400 No Name Uno Way,
Gilroy
Sat, Jun 16, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.,
Container Gardening 101
, Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, Charles Street Gardens, 433 Charles Street,
Sunnyvale
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Have a gardening question? Contact our Hotline (for Santa Clara County residents). Start by reviewing our plant
problem diagnosis tips
.
The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Santa Clara County Master Gardener Program volunteers are trained under the auspices of the UCCE. Our mission is to promote sustainable gardening practices by providing up-to-date, research-based horticultural information to home gardeners.
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