The Gentle Garden: What to Sow, Tend, and Enjoy in June

As the days grow longer and the garden hums with life, June arrives with its own kind of rhythm. June is the garden’s sweet spot — warm enough to bask in, alive with color, and still gentle enough to tend without haste.

Whether your garden is a sprawling backyard or a small corner of pots on a patio, June offers simple, soul-soothing tasks that help it thrive — and help you feel more rooted in the season. If you’re walking through your whimsical garden and wondering what to sow, what to do, and what to simply admire — this post is for you.

We’ll meander through the month like a garden path, pausing at the tasks that matter, the beauty that surrounds, and the gentle routines that bring peace to both plants and soul.

Here are seven garden tasks I’m embracing this month, perfect for the slow-living, flower-loving heart.

1. Sow Something Lovely

If you missed sowing earlier in spring, don’t worry—there’s still time to tuck in fast-growing annuals like:

• Zinnias (cheerful, long-lasting color in every hue imaginable)

• Cosmos (airy and light, a favorite with bees and butterflies)

• Nasturtiums (edible, peppery leaves and flowers—plus they ramble charmingly)

• Sunflowers (late-season showstoppers that turn their faces to the sun)

Herbs such as basil, lemon balm, and dill love this warmth, too—perfect for summer teas, salads, and bouquets.

In the veggie patch, now’s the time to sow:

• Squash (sun-loving vines with generous blossoms and hearty harvests—plant near nasturtiums to help deter squash bugs)

• Cucumbers (crisp, refreshing, and perfect for pickling or slicing into chilled water—try planting with dill and sunflowers for a naturally happy trio)

• Melons (sweet and fragrant, like summer sunshine in fruit form)

• Radishes (peppery bites that grow in just a few weeks—perfect for impatient gardeners and great for marking rows and breaking up soil for slower-growing carrots)

• Carrots (earthy and sweet, they love a deep, loose soil and a bit of patience—pair with onions or rosemary to help repel carrot flies)

• Turnips (mild and versatile, great for roasting or adding to soups—try sowing near peas to enrich the soil)

• Rutabaga (hearty, old-fashioned flavor—ideal for cozy dishes later in the year. Appreciates neighbors like mint or sage to deter pests)

Tip: Try a second sowing of salad greens and beans to keep fresh harvests coming well into summer—succession planting is your secret to abundance!

Moon Planting Chart – Summer 2025

(For Northern Hemisphere gardens – late May through August)

🌕 Moon Phase	🌱 What to Plant	🌾 Garden Tasks	2025 Dates
New Moon	Start leafy greens, herbs, annual flowers	Sow above-ground crops, water deeply	May 28 • June 27 • July 25 • Aug 24
First Quarter	Cucumbers, beans, squash, basil	Plant vigorous growers, fertilize lightly	Jun 4 • Jul 3 • Aug 2 • Aug 31
Full Moon	Root crops: carrots, radish, turnips, rutabaga	Prune, harvest herbs, make moon water	Jun 11 • Jul 10 • Aug 9
Last Quarter	Perennials, bulbs for fall, indoor prep	Weed, compost, rest, plan	Jun 19 • Jul 17 • Aug 16

Notes:

• Waning Moon (Full → New): Best for root crops, transplanting, and tending soil. Energy flows downward.

• Waxing Moon (New → Full): Ideal for leafy growth and flowering crops. Energy rises and strengthens plants.

• Full Moon Magic: Great time to harvest herbs at peak potency. Dry them for teas, or incense.

Tip: Planting with the moon isn't just tradition—it helps sync your garden with nature’s rhythms, encouraging harmony and abundance.

2. Water Deeply, Not Often

This month, deep and deliberate watering matters more than ever. Shallow watering leads to shallow roots, and we want our plants to stand strong through summer’s heat.

Aim to:

• Water early in the morning

• Give the soil time to soak — about 15–20 minutes

• Let the top inch dry before watering again

Tip: Place a saucer or small container in your garden to measure an inch of water during your watering sessions.

3. Snip & Savor

Harvesting is care. It’s also joy. The garden gives, and we respond with gentle hands and grateful hearts.

• Clip herbs like mint, thyme, oregano, and lavender — not just for flavor, but to encourage fuller, healthier growth. Tuck a few sprigs into your pockets or scatter them into bathwater for a small moment of luxury.

• Deadhead roses, snapdragons, and cosmos to encourage new blooms. This small act tells your plants they’re loved — and that you’re paying attention.

• Cut flowers for arrangements and bring their beauty indoors. A single bloom on the bedside table or a full bouquet on the kitchen counter reminds you that your garden is alive, and so are you.

• Gently prune back spring bloomers like lilacs and forsythia, take off 1/3 the size, shaping them for next year’s show while giving the garden a moment to breathe in this lush middle-season.

Tip: Bundle herbs and hang them to dry in a shaded, airy place — rafters, curtain rods, or a simple nail in the pantry wall. Come winter, they’ll whisper of June when you need it most.

4. Watch with Wonder

June invites us to pay attention. The garden is thriving — and so are the quiet things that nibble and hide. Look beneath the leaves and along stems for early signs of trouble:

• Clusters of aphids, like tiny green or black specks

• Caterpillars, especially on tender greens or flower buds

• Faint powdery mildew or dark leaf spots — gentle warnings, not doom

There’s no need for alarm — just quiet tending. The garden is resilient, and your response can be, too. Solutions don’t need to be harsh:

• Mist a mild neem oil or castile soap solution in the cool of morning

• Tuck in companion plants like marigolds, sweet alyssum, and nasturtiums — nature’s own little protectors

• Plant nectar-rich flowers like dill, yarrow, or fennel to invite ladybugs, lacewings, and other gentle allies

Catching pests early is an act of kindness — for your plants, your peace of mind, and the ecosystem you’re quietly stewarding. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s harmony.

5. Gather Your Early Joys

Strawberries are ripening, greens are still lush, and herbs are at their most flavorful. June’s harvests are small and sweet — perfect for slowing down and savoring.

• Pick strawberries in the morning, (they’re sweetest then).

• Snip herbs like basil, mint, and chamomile to infuse oils, steep into teas, or fold into shortbread.

• Gather leafy greens like lettuces, spinach, and chard, before they bolt in the heat. Use them generously, in everything from salads to sandwiches.

Tip: Place a small basket or bowl by your back door — it turns harvesting into a little ritual.

6. Support and Shape

Tall flowers can topple in a summer storm. Take a moment to moment to care for your garden’s tallest beauties.

• Stake foxgloves, delphiniums, and dahlias — their stems are strong, but not unbreakable. A simple bamboo cane or twiggy branch will do; it doesn’t have to be perfect, just supportive.

• Tie stems gently with soft twine or floral tape. Check regularly — growing stems need room to stretch.

• Weed when the soil is damp, it’s the best time to lift weeds root and all

• Edge your garden paths or flower beds, it brings a calm sense of intention to your whimsical garden.

7. Add a Touch of Magic

June is the perfect time to add those whimsical garden touches that bring joy to the everyday.

• Place a statue near a rose bush

• Place lighted mushrooms in a shady corner

• Add a birdbath, or mirror, for beauty and function

• Try planting scented herbs like lemon balm, lavender, rosemary or catmint near a bench or path — scent is part of the enchantment

---

A whimsical garden isn’t just about blooms — it’s about atmosphere, attention, and affection. In June, the work is gentle and the rewards are plenty. Whether you’re sowing flower seeds, tying up toppling foxgloves, or gathering strawberries in the early sun, these small acts of care begin to give back.

May your garden time this June gift you beauty in the blossoms, calm in the tending, and sweetness in every small harvest.

Happy Gardening,

Tricia

Everlea Journal