There comes that time at the end of spring, after the daffodils are all dried up that my gardens only offer green and greener.  I want them to be continuous and multiflorous from last snow melt to first frost.  They do not oblige.  For decades I have been on a quest for plants to fill the final days of this early growing season.   

​It seems the garden season has barely begun and already plants are crowding each other.  So out comes my pruning shears and by-pass pruner.  Pinch and prune can refer to a variety of techniques including pruning, deadheading, pinching stems or buds, or cutting back leggy plants to shape, form and trim.  It is usually species-specific and based on common sense.  Don’t worry about hurting your plants by experimenting. 
 
Useful tools include by-pass pruners, pruning scissors, and hand-held shears.  Avoid anvil-type pruners that can crush stems.    Different techniques call for specific tools, find the one that works for you and your plants. 

Here’s my task list for June:

• Fertilize the lawn late May/early June
• Move houseplants out when temps are above 50°
• Pinch back tall perennials:  dahlias, mums, aster, Joe Pye Weed, sedum
• Plant veggies when lilac is in full bloom

​“I want some pretty flowers”, I overheard the tall slim man with a small round container of succulents in his hand declare to the garden center clerk.  Here’s a place where there is a smorgasbord of flowers in abundance.  I wondered how she would guide this customer.  I didn’t hear her answer but the man replied with “something like pansies”.  Good choice I thought as pansies are usually my very first purchase of the year to start the garden season.