Gardening Jobs For May – Make the Most of Your May Garden
In order to make the most of your garden in May, you need to get started planting in the ground. Many crops require a cool climate, so consider planting tomatoes and climbing beans. While May is a good time to plant tomatoes and climbing beans, it is important to know that temperatures are still going to dip quite a bit in the evenings. Hardening plants involves exposing them to colder weather before planting. The average last frost date in your area determines the best time to plant warm-season crops.
Many gardeners enjoy the long, breezy days of May. Many fruit trees will bloom in May, including apricots, plums, and cherries. Also, the lilacs, azaleas, and other trees will begin to blossom. Although May is a busy time of year for gardeners, this is also the time to plant a variety of spring bulbs and plants. You may even want to consider using an automatic irrigation system in your garden.
Perennials and soft-wooded plants can be planted in May. Perennials, like asparagus, will survive a small amount of frost. Tender plants, like arugula, are best planted in areas that receive no frost. However, be sure to keep an eye out for weeds that may compete with your plants. If you do decide to plant something in your garden in May, make sure it will not be susceptible to frost.
As for your flowering plants, try planting radishes, carrots, beets, greens, and tomatoes. After the blooms have emerged, harden them off with supports and apply low-nitrogen fertilizer. If you have a peony, you can add a cage before it’s too late. And don’t forget to cut the dead flowers so that they don’t overgrow and make your baskets look untidy.
If you’ve been looking for ways to fill your days with gardening, May is the perfect time for lawn repair and planting. With the warmer spring temperatures, plants such as Bermuda, zoysia, and centipede can establish themselves in your lawn. You can also direct sow hardy annuals in pots or drifts. If you’re in the Midwest, make sure to prune your mums to keep them compact.
As for your vegetable garden, make sure to protect them from disease and pests. Adding mulch to your garden will keep the soil moist and prevent plants from drying out. Replace cool-weather crops with warm-weather ones. If you have fruit trees and bushes, you can use netting to protect them from thrips and bugs. Seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers can also be started indoors. For those who want to grow more than just flowers, you can also try starting your vegetables indoors in a greenhouse.
As temperatures rise, weeds and other insects will begin to emerge. It is important to check your plants for ticks to protect yourself from any critters that may try to attack you. If you notice a whitefly larva, you can try to remove the insect. Alternatively, you can place the affected leaves in the foliage of plants that do not host parasites. Insects such as asparagus beetles, cutworms, and scale can also be problems. Some diseases, such as leaf spot, can also affect plants.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://diygardeningtips.com/garden-tips/do-herbs-need-full-sun/