Tom’s Timely Tips For May

TOM’S TIMELY TIPS FOR MAY GARDENING

• Slugs and snails are out in full force right now.  Be sure to take steps to control them now.

• Plan a landscaping project on paper first.  Do not over plant.  Be sure to know the mature size of each plant and allow for growth.

• Mow lawns regularly to keep grass at 2½ inch height.

• Begin watering program as necessary.

• Begin weeding.

• Aerate and moisten compost pile to speed decomposition.

• Mulch planting beds.

• Deadhead bulbs but allow foliage to remain until yellow to nourish bulbs for next year’s display.

• As night temperatures moderate into the 60’s, move houseplants outdoors (avoid full sun and windy locations).

• Sow seeds of corn, cucumber and melon directly in the garden.

• Harden off tomato, eggplant and pepper transplants before planting outside at the end of the month.

• When planting your vegetables, take care to plant them in different locations than last year.  This will keep your garden healthier.

• To grow annuals in containers, use a light weight soil mixture.  Keep the plants well-watered, because the soil dries out quickly.  Apply a water soluble fertilizer according to package directions every two weeks.

• Watering roses with soaker hoses or drip irrigation will reduce the spread of black spot disease.

• Plant ground covers under shade trees that do not allow enough sunlight to grow grass.  Vinca Minor or English Ivy are ground cover plants that grow well in shade.

• For maximum landscape interest in a small, vertical space, try annual vines.  They can disguise ugly walls and fences.  When trellised, they can create shade and privacy while hiding undesirable views.  Try Morning Glory, Nasturtium Vine and Scarlet Runner Bean.

• Stay out of the garden when the vegetable plant leaves are wet.  Walking through a wet garden spreads disease from one plant to another.

• Put tools away at the end of the day.  Clean them and hang them up so they are ready to use and easy to find when you need them.

Fertilizing and Pruning Tips

• Lightly side dress perennials with an all-purpose 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 fertilizer.  Avoid spilling the fertilizer on the plant, and use care not to damage the shallow roots when you cultivate it into the soil.

• Fertilize roses.

• Fertilize needle evergreens with acid type fertilizer.

• Fertilize bulbs as they finish blooming.

• Fertilize annuals and container plants.

• Fertilize lawns in late May (leaving grass clippings on the lawn can reduce the need to fertilize.)

• Continue to prune all plant material to remove any diseased, dead, weak or crossing branches.

• Prune early spring-flowering shrubs after blooming.

• Wait to prune evergreens hedges and other shrubs until late spring into early summer.

• Begin deadheading roses.

• Pinch back late summer and fall-blooming perennials.