• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Texas A&M Forest Service
  • Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Research
  • Texas A&M College of Agrculture and Life Sciences
El Paso County Master Gardeners
El Paso County Master GardenersTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
  • Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
    • How to Become an El Paso County Master Gardener
    • History
    • Volunteer Duties
    • Application
    • Texas Master Gardener Association Awards
      • Texas Master Gardener Association Award for 2021
      • Texas Master Gardener Association Award for 2020
      • Texas Master Gardener Association Awards for 2019
      • Texas Master Gardener Association Award for 2018
      • Texas Master Gardener Association Awards for 2015
      • Texas Master Gardener Association Awards for 2013-2014
    • Master Gardener of the Quarter
    • Executive Committee
    • Association Members
      • 2024-2025 Class Handouts
    • Donate
  • Outreach
    • Help Desk
    • Good to Grow Radio Show
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Master Gardener Information Table
    • El Paso Community College (EPCC) Gardening Class
    • School Garden Program
  • Projects
    • Ascarate Teaching and Demonstration Garden
    • Ascarate Accessible Garden
    • Texas A&M AgriLife Vegetable Demonstration Gardens
    • Farmers’ Market
    • El Paso Municipal Rose Garden
    • Transmountain Cleanup
  • Events
  • Learn
    • Gardening in El Paso-Articles
    • Gardening Topics-Links
  • Ask Us
  • Monthly Tips
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Videos & More

May

May Gardening Tips

Photo of a field of sunflowers.

Sunflowers (Photo by Michael, CC BY-ND 2.0)

Plant warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda, Buffalo, Zoysia and St. Augustine. 

Plant hot-weather annuals, such as lantana, moss rose, daisies, sunflowers and marigolds. 

Thin fruit on peaches, apricots, and plums to five to six inches apart on the branches.  The result will be larger, better quality fruit.

If flowers are spent, prune your spring-flowering shrubs and vines to shape them.

Prune climbing roses and once-blooming antique roses to restore good shape and reduce overall height. 

Cut off old blossoms on spring-flowering annuals such as pansies and snapdragons to prolong the flowering season. 

Allow foliage of spring-flowering bulbs to mature and yellow before removing.

Pinch back the terminal growth on newly planted annual and perennial plants.  This will result in shorter, more compact and well-branched plants with more flowers. 

Fertilize plants in containers and hanging baskets with a complete, balanced fertilizer, such as a 20-20-20. 

Fertilize established lawns of warm-season turf grasses, such as Bermuda, Buffalo, St. Augustine, and Zoysia with a high nitrogen fertilizer, such as a 20-5-5.  If the blades of grass are yellowish but the veins of the blades remain green, an application of an iron fertilizer might also be necessary–don’t fertilize with iron unless the plant “tells” you that it needs iron.

Fertilize trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers, making sure NOT to use a “weed and feed” type fertilizer, which will damage these plants.  Be sure to water thoroughly after fertilizing all plants and follow label directions for application rates. 

Turn the material in your compost pile to speed up decomposition.  Water when needed.

Replenish old mulch or apply new mulch in flowerbeds and around shrubs to reduce weed growth and conserve water.

Sow seeds of warm-season vegetables, such as southern peas, okra and peppers directly into the garden.

 

Revised 5.14

 

 

Upcoming Events

Jun 14
11:00 am - 12:30 pm

How to Make a Rainy Day Last-Rainwater Harvesting (Recolección de Agua de lluvia)

View Calendar

Month by Month Gardening Tips

  • Monthly Gardening Tips
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

El Paso Master Gardeners Facebook

El Paso Master Gardeners Facebook

Master Gardener Online Earth-Kind® Training

Master Gardener Online Earth-Kind® Training Modules (direct link) Learn environmentally friendly (Earth-Kind®) practices for use in the home landscape and garden. Available to the public.

Partners

El Paso Cactus and Rock Club

El Paso Chapter-Native Plant Society

El Paso Rose Society Facebook

KTEP Good to Grow Radio Show

Texas Master Gardener℠ Association

Texas Master Gardener℠ Program

UTEP Chihuahuan Desert Gardens

West Texas Urban Forestry Council

El Paso Public Library

El Paso Parks & Recreation Dept. Facebook

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M University System Member
  • Compact with Texans
  • Privacy and Security
  • Accessibility Policy
  • State Link Policy
  • Statewide Search
  • Veterans Benefits
  • Military Families
  • Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veterans Portal
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Open Records/Public Information