Helping your garden move from June gloom to summer sun

So far, on the official second day of summer — we're back to the June gloom vibe we’ve been stuck with for most of the spring. Cold, wet, and no sun in sight.

But that’s supposed to change soon. It looks like there are 80-plus-degree days coming this weekend. Between the soggy weather and the sudden shift to summer temperatures, Pacific Northwest gardeners need a pep talk.

And Ciscoe Morris is here to help.

Ciscoe is a master gardener and the author of several books - the most recent of which is "Oh, La La! Homegrown Stories, Helpful Tips, and Garden Wisdom."

He says there's plenty you can do to get your garden prepped for the change in weather.

1. You might be fighting disease in your garden that you wouldn't in other years. A lot of diseases in this area come from spores that land on plant leaves. And those spores only grow if there's sitting water. The consistently wet weather of June means that you're more likely to see diseases such as black spot and needle blight this year. It's also a reason to be careful about overwatering your plants. Make sure they have time to dry before giving them another sip.
2. Even with all this rain, some plants might not be getting enough water. If you have hydrangeas, like caller Thea in Seattle, that seem to be struggling, and not developing like they normally do, more water might be the answer. Hydrangeas prefer less sun, and wetter conditions. So, on drier days make sure they're well watered, and mulch around the area.
3. Help your cold-loving veggies adapt as the temperature rises. Vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts have been loving this cold, wet weather. But they don't like it when the temperature goes from cool to warm overnight. Try shading them to help with the transition, using something like rolling crop cover, which you can buy at nurseries. Slowly remove the cover as they adapt, and make sure they're getting enough water.