1 May 2009
May Garden Chores (specific to Northeast..see below for links to other areas of country)
1)Early May chores that can be completed while evening temperatures remain below 55 degrees includes focusing on perennials, shrubs and trees, and attending to spring bulbs.
- Divide most perennials as long as they're not spring bloomers and as long as the foliage isn't more than 5 or 6 inches high
- Deadhead spent flowerheads on spring-blooming bulbs to direct their energy back to their roots so they can build vigor for next year
- Finish up any pruning this month with the exception of spring-blooming trees and shrubs.
- Plant container-grown trees, shrubs, perennial herbs, and perennial flowers. You can give planting bare-root plants a try this month, but it's getting awfully late and they aren't as likely to thrive at this point as the more established container plants.
2)May Chores completed after the fear of frost has passed includes planting annuals, putting down mulch & complete pruning.
- Plant warm-season annuals (flowers and vegetables). Including plants for containers, pots, windowboxes, and planters. Remove any cool-season flowers, such as pansies, that you may already have there. Work in a slow-release fertilizer.
- Good time to move household plants outdoors shaded area. Also good time to repot and fertilize
- Once you are done planting and tulips have faded which is usually in the last days of May, put down mulch. Be sure that you pull all weeds prior to laying mulch.
- Once spring flowering shrubs have finished blooming, prune the shrubs.
- Keep new plantings well-watered.
- Memorial Day is a good time to fertilize your lawn with slow release nitrogen.
I obtained much of my information from Living the Country Life and Garden Detective For those in different areas of the country go to the applicable link below:
for complete posting including May tips for fountains and birdhouse care..go here
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