June brings a color burst of annuals.

Annuals in June are starting to explode with color.

And the best part is, most of the actual work of transplanting should be finished by mid-month, so all you have to do is keep everything watered, and occasionally, fed from here on out.

Deadheading most annuals, such as petunias, marigolds, geraniums and gerbera daisies will keep them reproducing blooms through the summer. And nipping off the flower spikes of coleus keeps them producing beautiful, bushy rainbow leaves.

Mix annuals in complimentary, eye-catching combinations: purple ageratum and bluish-gray dusty miller look great with white impatiens, while bright orange and yellow marigolds are a perfect companion for tall and showy red, purple, yellow, pink and gold zinnias.

June is the time to really enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor in March, April and May. The weather is generally gorgeous - not too hot yet, but warm enough to really mean summer.

So, after pulling a few weeds, pull out the patio furniture, fill a glass with iced tea and drink in the beauty around you.

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June tips for annuals.

• Keep on planting annuals through about mid-June, but try to avoid planting in the heat of the day. Plant before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m. to avoid placing undue stress on new transplants. After planting, fertilize and water deeply. As the summer heat increases, it’s difficult for transplants to acclimate, so keep an eye on dryness of the soil. For additional specific planting tips, see the May guide.

• Feed bedding and container plants about every two weeks throughout the summer with water soluble plant food. Apply it from a watering can or through a hose-end sprayer to cover large areas and many plants.

• Petunias, marigolds, shasta daisies and others will benefit from pinching and dead-heading. Pinching means removing the growing tips (when branches are 4 to 6 inches long), causing the plants to produce side shoots. Deadheading means removing spent blooms.

• Placing mulch on top of soil in plant containers will help retain moisture. Containers, especially those made of clay, dry out very quickly in summer heat. Plastic and enameled pots retain water better, but don’t breathe as well. Still, in hot temperatures, these containers help prevent plant stress between waterings.

• Remove flower spikes from coleus to prevent leggy growth and encourage more dense, leafy growth. Feed as you would flowering annuals, and keep watered, as well.

• Zinnia and many other outdoor seeds, including wildflower mixes, are sprouting in June and need daily watering in hot weather until they are about six inches tall and have developed a root system. Feeding also will encourage growth and blooms in these mostly care-free plants, but they’ll usually do all right without special attention.