Summer
Officially starts June 20, and that's good news for gardeners because it means there's still plenty of time to plant or to enhance a summer garden. White Flower Farm's experts offer their top five, easy- to- follow tips for a beautiful, healthy garden.

Mulch Your Garden
After planting your favorite flowers, top- dress the bed with compost and a two- inch layer of organic mulch. Mulch helps suppress weeds, retains moisture in the soil, and keeps the soil cooler. Check to see what mulches are available locally, such as shredded bark, pine needles, or buckwheat hulls.

Fill a Container with Color
Brighten your deck or entryway with decorative planters made of clay or stone, or try the lightweight polyethylene or fiberglass pots that resemble natural materials. Combinations of bold- leaved tropical plants and traditional annuals are popular this season. Pair bananas with petunias or salvia, for example.

Edge Your Beds
Clean, crisp edges give a finished look to garden borders. Use an edging tool just for this purpose or use a sharp, flat spade to cut neatly through sod.

Bring Your Houseplants Outdoors
Houseplants benefit from summer rain and fresh air, but introduce them gradually to outdoor life. Place them in shade for a while, as full sun will burn leaves that have grown indoors. Now is also the time to re- pot and fertilize those plants.

Attract Hummingbirds
Encourage visits by growing flowers that attract hummingbirds, such as fuchsia, bee balm, and other annuals or perennials with red blossoms. Hang a feeder designed especially for them.