June is when the garden truly hits its stride, the days stretch long, the soil holds warmth, and everything from vegetables to perennials is bursting with new life. It’s a month of momentum and opportunity, when plants grow rapidly and nature hums with activity.
It’s also the perfect time to garden with intention. Choosing sustainable, organic practices not only benefits your own garden, it supports essential pollinators, protects your local watershed, and helps build healthy, living soil that will nourish plants for seasons to come.
Watering & Feeding in June: Support Peak Growth
June marks the peak growth period for annuals and perennials, making it an ideal time to support them with consistent care. These plants benefit most from regular watering, especially young or recently planted ones that haven’t developed deep root systems. Water in the early morning to minimize evaporation and reduce the risk of fungal disease. Apply an organic, balanced fertilizer to fuel healthy foliage, strong roots, and vibrant blooms. Feeding and watering properly now will set the stage for a lush, thriving garden through the summer months.
Tree & Shrub Care
Prune spring-flowering shrubs
Prune spring-flowering shrubs after bloom to encourage healthy growth and more blooms next year.
Need help planning, planting, or maintaining your landscape? Xylem Designs is your Minneapolis-based partner in eco-conscious gardening. From thoughtful design to seasonal upkeep, we bring out the best in your space—naturally.
👉 Book a consultation today and get growing with confidence.
Avoid Mulch Piled Against Tree Trunks
Piling mulch against the base of a tree can cause serious harm to the tree. The best thing around tree trunks is to let nature do the work: let leaf litter accumulate, plant low native groundcovers, and avoid disturbing the root zone. If you use anything, use aged wood chips or compost, never touching the trunk.
Why Mulch Volcanoes Are Harmful
Girdling Roots: Encourages roots to grow in circles, potentially strangling the tree.
Root Suffocation: Limits oxygen to roots, stressing the tree.
Excess Moisture: Traps water around the trunk, increasing the risk of rot and fungal disease.
Bark Decay: Constant moisture against the bark invites pests and decay.
Best Practices
Doing nothing at all around tree trunks is actually one of the best things you can do, especially in more natural or wooded areas. Trees evolved without human intervention, and the more we mimic those conditions, the better they often fare.
If you choose to mulch around trees, keep mulch 3–4 inches away from the trunk to prevent rot and pests. Apply it in a 2–4 inch deep, flat layer forming a donut shape, not a mound. Use organic materials like wood chips or shredded bark to enrich the soil naturally. Check annually to maintain proper depth and ensure the mulch stays clear of the trunk.
Pest Control
Common pests
June’s warmth brings increased pest activity in both lawns and gardens. Three of the most common culprits are aphids, which cluster on tender plant growth; slugs, which thrive in damp, shaded areas and chew holes in leaves; and grubs, the root-feeding larvae of beetles that cause brown patches in lawns and stunt young garden plants.
aphids & slugs
Combat aphids by spraying plants with a strong stream of water or applying insecticidal soap or neem oil in the early morning. Encourage natural predators like ladybugs and lacewings by planting pollinator-friendly flowers such as dill, fennel, or alyssum. For slugs, use beer traps, copper tape, or simply handpick them at dawn or dusk. Keep mulch light and avoid overwatering to reduce slug hiding spots.
treat for grubs
Grubs feed on grassroots, causing brown patches and loose turf. Left unchecked, they mature into beetles that damage plants—turning your lawn and garden into a feast.The best time to treat grubs is late June to early July. Apply beneficial nematodes or Milky Spore, two organic options that target grubs before they grow into beetles.
👉 Contact Xylem Designs for a free consultation today!