"People are never free of trying to be content."
–Murray Bookchin
"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it."
–Russell Baker
Early summer in Laguna means Father’s Day, my mother’s and sister’s birthdays, graduations, the festivals and… visitors from out of town. The odds are pretty good that we won’t be able to prevent the tourists from intruding into our village. So, Catharine, the cats and I steel ourselves for the annual invasion and create the opportunity to visit more often in our garden. Why would we want to get caught up in traffic, when we can relax in the quiet of our home?
June is a difficult month to be content in your garden… it is the transition month between spring and summer. Gardeners must overcome the morning overcast gloom that promotes mildew on everything; snails and slugs in the ivy (tread lightly as not to walk on someone’s pet); and fungus gnats in the lawn. Then suddenly we are faced with a blazing hot afternoon sun, which requires multiple waterings of new flowers; protecting tender plants and yourself from sun scald; and the proliferation of mites and aphids.
After the rush of spring, we tend to become a bit noncommittal about our gardens. After all, summer vacation is just days away for many. This is, however, extremely dangerous, because there is much to be done. Why risk the humiliation of ugly garden?
Our gardening list begins with a summer mulch of a quality planter’s mix on everything, including all of the annuals, perennials and trees. This will help to conserve moisture and reduce water consumption. Remember to water your tomatoes and roses well. Even levels of moisture are the key to success. Established plantings should be watered as needed, in response to the weather, rather than on a time schedule.
Roses should be fed with a balanced fertilizer... Miracle Gro for Roses is an excellent product. This is particularly important after a flower crop ends. Soak the soil thoroughly following application. Annuals and perennials will also benefit from monthly applications of fertilizer.
With anticipated warmer weather, raise the lawn mower so the grass is cut higher. Water deeply and as infrequently as possible to encourage deeper root growth. Fertilizer should be applied monthly during the growing season... your favorite nursery can assist you with just the right product for your specific type of grass. Judicious use of herbicides can be effective in controlling weeds and crabgrass.
Many of your potted plants, such as fuchsia, tuberous begonias and other shade plants are at their peak during the early summer months. Provide plenty of moisture and light shade. Watch plants in containers carefully... don’t allow them to dry out during warm weather.
Summer pruning should be completed carefully... mainly to maintain space for your plant and yourself. It is o.k. to pinch back leggy growth on annuals and perennials to make a plants more attractive. Don’t forget to deadhead spent flowers on all of your plants!
I believe that I have come up with a timely, although non-horticultural solution for the upcoming, summer congestion in Laguna. All Festival of Arts board members and their supporters should be exiled to San Clemente or with former Laguna Beach Art Museum board members (the ones who tried to steal our museum) in Newport Beach. This final, selfless act would not only reduce traffic, but also leave our fair city smelling like a rose. See you next time.
Steve Kawaratani is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery, 1540 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. He is married to local artist, Catharine
Cooper, and has four cats. He can be reached at 949-497-2438, or
E-mail to plantm@aol.com.
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