Landscape

• After lilacs finish blooming, cut back to the ground 1/3 of the oldest branches to curtail lilac borer and rejuvenate the plant. Lilac will bloom next year on this year's growth.

• Attract hummingbirds by planting weigela, red buckeye, flowering crabapple, butterflybush, clethra and rose-of-sharon.

Flowers and bulbs

• Encourage the root establishment of hostas by preventing blooms for one or two seasons. Clip the bud stalks to the ground.

• Pinch back phlox, monarda, physostegia and tradescantia to control the height and fullness.

Vegetables and fruits

• Attract beneficial insects to the garden by planting monarda, achillea, asclepias and Queen Anne's lace.

• Make additional plantings of sweet corn, mustard, radishes and lettuce. Make first plantings of snap beans, lima beans, cucumbers, pumpkin watermelon and tomato transplants.

• To planting holes for vegetable transplants, add 1 cup of starter solution. Prepare solution by mixing soluble fertilizers with high phosphorus (middle number on the container) at the rate of 2 tablespoons per gallon of water.

• Check raspberry and blackberry shoots when 12-14 inches tall for viruses and orange rust. Infected plants will be thornless, thin and willowy and will have orange spores under the leaves. Dig out infected plants. Do not put in compost.

Eco tip

Compost heaps need a balance of "greens," which contain nitrogen, and "browns," which contain carbon. Alternate layers and toss in an occasional shovel of garden soil to add microorganisms. Turn to incorporate air and hasten decomposition, and water when it gets dry.

Contact Civic Garden Center Hotline by phone: 221-8733; e-mail hotline@civicgardencenter.org.