May

May Gardening Tips

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