San Diego gardens are moving into summer, making it a good time to plant subtropicals, trim for more blooms and support pollinators.
Plant Subtropicals
Late spring is the best time to plant subtropicals and heat-loving plants. Plants and vines to add to your garden include bird of paradise, cestrum, ginger, hibiscus, philodendron, tree ferns, bower vine, Bougainvillea, Mandevilla, black-eyed Susan and pink trumpet vine.
It’s also a good time to add subtropical fruit trees like citrus, banana, pineapple guava and avocado along with Hong Kong orchid tree, palm, trumpet tree, silk floss tree and other ornamental trees. Some of these subtropicals are not frost tolerant, so take care when planting.
Deadhead for More Flowers
Removing spent blooms from many perennials and annuals will allow them to bloom again. If spent flowers are left on the plants, they will focus on producing seeds rather than more blooms. Most plants, like coreopsis, penstemon and yarrow, require only light trimming. If a plant is woody at its base, like lavender, don’t cut back into the wood. After you remove the spent flowers, give those plants a light feeding.
Roses will keep blooming in San Diego gardens through October if you trim off old flowers. If possible, cut above a growth node where there’s a five-leaflet leaf pointing outward about midway on the cane. Feed your roses lightly and water deeply after trimming.
Pollinator Week
Pollinator Week, June 22–28, is an annual event supporting pollinator health. There are several things you can do in your San Diego garden to help pollinators, and it’s not just honey bees doing the work. Native bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, beetles, moths and even flies are all pollinators.
Plant pollinator-friendly natives and other non-invasive plants in clusters. Reduce or eliminate pesticides. Create a bee-friendly garden. Support your local beekeepers and spread the word about pollinators.
For more information on how to help pollinators in your yard, visit www.pollinator.org. There you’ll find bee guides, lists of pollinator-friendly native plants, planting guides for our area and more.
San Diego Gardens Source
A lot of information for San Diego Gardens comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.