Northwest Region

• Prune flowering shrubs, such as rhododendrons, lilacs, and azaleas, after they bloom.
• Fertilize your vegetable plants 1 month after they emerge by side dressing.
• Be sure to continuously harvest your vegetables and fruit to keep the crops thinned out.
• Ensure that raised beds are getting enough water. Once the soil surface dries out, water deeply in the early morning.
• Make trellises or supports for tomatoes, cucumbers, and pole beans.
• Remember to water your lawn. It is better to water it deeply and less frequently than shallow and more frequently.
• Keep checking your plants for any diseases or insects, and treat when necessary. (See our Pest pages.)
• Stay on top of garden weeds.
• Move your houseplants outside for some sunlight. You can also clean and repot your plants.
• Mow your lawn regularly to a height of 2 to 3 inches. Leave clippings on lawn as natural fertilizer.
• Make sure your lawn is getting 1 inch of water per week. (Measure rainfall by putting out an empty tin can.)
• Sharpen your mower blades to prevent disease and keep the lawn greener.
• Plant more flowers, such as petunias, marigolds, zinnias, asters, nasturtiums, and impatiens.
• Remove the dead flowers from perennials and annuals. Pinching back the stems will also help to keep your plants healthy.
• Fertilize annuals with a balanced fertilizer. High nitrogen content is important until the plants are fully grown; once they fully grown, switch to a high-phosphorus fertilizer.
• Check your trees and shrubs; ensure that each has a few inches of mulch (or add more).
• If your apple and pear trees drop, thin the remainder for more productive harvest.
• Spray fruit trees to avoid pests. Horticulture oil sprays handle many pests in an environmentally friendly yet effective way.
• Keep your compost pile moist. Mix and moisten dry materials and cover with plastic if it’s dry out.