May is one of the most colorful months of the year and a great time for planting before it gets too hot. Selection at the nursery is optimal during the spring, so get out there and spruce up your yard with some new plants!
Work in the Garden — Begin increasing your watering schedule as the weather warms. Water seedlings and young plants frequently for short periods; water trees and shrubs deeply and less often. Remember most plants in our landscapes can be considered water wise if watered properly.
Planting and Transplanting — For summer fragrance, consider planting citrus, gardenias, jasmine, mock orange or roses. African daisy, lily of the Nile, myoporum, society garlic, bird of paradise, star jasmine and succulents make great fire-resistant shrubs, vines or ground covers.
Bedding Plants — Plant spring/summer flowers weekly for successive blooming including begonia, dianthus, impatiens, lobelia, marigold, vinca and petunia. Before planting, scatter and work into the soil an all-purpose fertilizer such as Gro-Power. Scatter again in two to four weeks.
Vegetables and Herbs —There’s still time to start planting tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and eggplant. Consider planting a marigold border interspersed with garlic or onion around the vegetable garden to discourage pests. In your herb garden plant basil, dill, mint, chives, oregano, parsley and cilantro.
Fruiting Plants — Avocado, banana and citrus can all be planted now in well-drained soil before the weather gets too warm. It is also a great time to purchase stone fruits like peaches and nectarines. They will be leafed out and possibly flowering as well.
Roses — Clean up existing roses by removing old buds and pruning. Plant new container roses. Water once or twice a week as needed. Fertilize every six weeks through August. Remove any unwanted suckers.
