DENVER — Summer has arrived and, with it, garden maintenance.
Proper maintenance will result in picture-perfect beds, borders and containers.
Deadheading
Deadheading is essential. It's surprising how many people do it wrong. Don't just pull off the faded flower.
Remove the flower, seed capsule and stem, depending on the kind of plant. Deadheading prevents plants from diverting their energy into seed production rather than flowers.
Iris flowers
The iris flowers have finished. Cut off the entire flower stalk but do not touch the foliage.
The only time to cut back iris leaves is when you divide and replant them. Then, it's useful to cut the "fan" of foliage halfway. This makes it easier for the rhizomes to get reestablished.
Slugs
If you have a lot of slugs, you water too much. And bark mulch makes the problem worse because the slugs hide under the bark.
Use an effective slug killer. Never use salt. Salt kills plants.
Crushed eggshells aren't much of a deterrent either. Slimy slugs can ooze right over them.
Vegetables and flowers
Cool-season vegetables and flowers decline when it gets hot.
Pansies and calendula can't take the heat. They get stressed and attract spider mites.
Spinach and lettuce bolt. That means they try to bloom. The leaves get bitter. Pull and refrigerate them. If they've already bolted, pull and compost them. Replace them with heat-loving basil or marigolds.
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