June Gardening Checklist for Washington D.C., Virginia & Maryland

1. Plant Warm-Season Vegetables

June is planting time in Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. So get those warm-weather crops in the ground: tomatoes, beans, cauliflower, corn, cucumber, peppers, squash, Brussels sprouts, and onions. Many of these crops fare better when they’re transplanted in June because the extra heat helps them mature quickly right from the start (when started in April or May, cool weather can slow their growth). Be sure to stake plants such as tomatoes and peppers early before plants are too unruly to stake.

2. Compost & Open Up Your Soil

Whether you’re using compost or compost tea (we recommend Malibu's Best), make yourself a set schedule for composting as it will help your plants mature properly. It helps to scratch in compost in order to open up compacted soil—you can do this with a long-handled hoe such as the Prohoe from A.M. Leonard. Be sure to water plants thoroughly when you’re done. When you compost it also a good idea to loosen soil using a broadfork. This helps air penetrate deeper into the soil and allows nutrients to get into the ground. Try the broadforks from Johnny's Selected Seed.

3. Plant Edible Flowers

If you’ve grown a variety of vegetables, you’ve probably grown edible flowers (though you may not have realized it!). Everything from squash to bachelor buttons to calendula have edible flowers. If you do decide you’d like to begin growing edible flowers intentionally, there are some that have especially beautiful and flavorful petals. Try growing nasturtium (for a peppery flavor), squash (slightly sweet), borage (cucumber-like), hibiscus (cranberry-like), lavender (herbal), roses (floral), sage (sweet and savory), and violets (floral).

4. Get the Right Gear

Gardening is so much better with the right gear. If you just want the essentials or need any updates, here are some tools we recommend:

• A sharply pointed trowel (Sneebor Traditional Dutch Transplanting Trowel)
• A deeply serrated soil knife (Professional Gardener's Digging Tool)
• A kink-free hose (Zero G Garden Hose)
• A soft pad to kneel on (Deep-Seat Garden Kneeler)
• Lightweight garden gloves (Ultra Fit Work & Garden Gloves)
• A reliable pair of boots (Men's Burly Foam Insulated Boot or Women's Grange Chelsea)
• An ergonomic garden shovel (Radius Pro)
• A comfortable garden hat (Women's Global Adventure Packable Hat or Men's Bora Bora II Booney)

5. Harvest Regularly

Harvesting is not just about picking produce to eat now. It also stimulates plants, prompting them to continue producing more fruits and vegetables throughout the season. So when your crops begin to produce, be sure to harvest regularly so you get to enjoy more of the fruits of your labor. It’s also a good time to walk through your space slowly in order to observe how your garden is maturing—pay attention to any pest problems, rot, irrigation issues, underdeveloped plants, yellowing, etc. Then address problems early in the season while you can still make adjustments.

6. Test Irrigation, Then Mulch

There’s no sense in putting a thick layer of mulch over irrigation lines and heads then trying to check them—it creates extra work. After your irrigation is good to go, do any necessary weeding then add mulch to reduce weeds and retain moisture. Learn more about irrigation and mulch.

7. Use Irrigation Gadgets

Not all the irrigation gadgets are worth using but there are a few that make watering a little easier. Smart timers that are connected to your smartphone make adjusting zone schedules very simple. Many of the new smart timers are also connected to weather data which means that when there’s rain, your sprinklers won’t run for a few days. Here are a few to try: Rachio, Gro Controller.

8. Expand Your Houseplant Collection

Summer is about being outside in the garden, but sometimes you need a break from the heat and sun. When you go inside, you don’t have to leave your horticultural endeavors at the doorstep. There are more and more houseplants that are coming to the market and many of the most unique and interesting varieties (Monstera, Anthurium, Pilea, Asplenium) are bring produced in greater volumes. One of the most intriguing houseplant experts is Baltimore, Maryland-based Hilton Carter. Check out his book Wild At Home for houseplant inspiration or head over to his website to buy prints, houseplant containers, and watering cans through his company Things by HC. If you want really off-beat varieties, visit NSE Tropicals .

9. Get Those Pumpkins in the Ground

There are few things more satisfying for a gardener than growing your own pumpkins—especially exceptionally large or decorative varieties that come in colors such as white, green, or variegated patterns. Some of the best varieties for cooking include ‘Winter Luxury’, ‘Cinnamon Girl’, and ‘New England Pie’. There are also great varieties for carving: ‘Jack O’ Lantern’, ‘Early Giant’, or ‘Wolf’. And, of course, there are those unusual pumpkins that are all about the look: ‘Cinderella’s Carriage’, ‘Mini Jack’, ‘Polar Bear’, ‘Casperita’, ‘Jarrahdale Large’, ‘Marina Di Chioggia’, or ‘Porcelain Doll’. Buy pumpkin seeds at Johnny's Selected Seed, Renee's Garden, or Harris Seeds.

10. Bring in the Birds, Bees, and Butterflies

Few plants change how you interact with a garden like natives—not only are they beautiful, but they bring life into the garden. If you plant perennials, shrubs, and trees that are native to your local environment, we guarantee you’ll want to just sit in your garden and observe all that’s going on. Here are five great native plants to plant in your garden in June: oaks, willows, paw paw trees, sunflowers, and goldenrod. Aside from plants, there are many other ways to attract pollinators. Adding water features provides a place for birds to get a drink and take a quick bath. To attract native bees, leave some areas free of mulch so bare soil is exposed and accessible to bee species that build nest in the ground. Another option is to add resting and nesting sites for pollinators like these available from Gardener's Supply. Or, if you’re really feeling inspired, try building a house with supplies from Crown Bees available on Amazon.