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- It's still not too late to fertilize your
trees and shrubs. Use a 'Rhododendron' or an
'Evergreen' type of plant food to feed
evergreens and acid loving plants like
Rhododendrons,
Camellias, Azaleas,
and Junipers, etc. Use an all-purpose garden
fertilizer (10-10-10) to feed roses, deciduous
shrubs and trees. Be sure to water the
fertilizer in thoroughly after it is applied.
- Early flowering deciduous shrubs such as
Forsythias, Weigela and
Spirea should be pruned back
when they have finished blooming. Cut back a
third of the oldest canes to ground level,
then cut back one third of the remaining
branches by one third of their height.
- Dahlias, Gladiolas, tuberous Begonias,
Lilies and Cannas and other summer flowering
bulbs can be planted this month.
- Delphiniums, Phlox, Daylilies, Carnations,
Aubrietia, Candytuft, Primroses, Coral Bells
and other summer flowering perennials may all
be set into the garden any time in May.
- Lightly sidedress perennials with an
all-purpose 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 fertilizer.
Avoid spilling the fertilizer on the plant,
and use care not to damage the shallow roots
when you cultivate it into the soil.
- May is a good month to repair your lawn.
Fill in the bare spots by slightly loosening
surface of the soil and sow a good quality
lawn seed over the area evenly. Tamp the seed
in gently and water.
- Keep the patch moist by covering
with light mulch of lawn clippings.
- This is the time to eliminate lawn weeds
by hand pulling, or the application of a 'weed
and feed' fertilizer.... before they go to
seed!
-
Setting your mower for a higher cut during the
spring months will help the grass to grow in
fuller and help choke out the weeds.
- If the weather refuses to cooperate with
your gardening plans, and your seeds have
refused to germinate due to cold and wet
conditions, you may want to consider
replanting a reserve crop (Just in
case....)
- As summer nears and efficient watering
practices become more important, mulching is
an effective technique to keep soil
temperatures even, to retain moisture in the
soil and to prevent weeds from germinating.
Apply at least two to three inches of material
(three to six inches of larger bark pieces),
keeping it several inches away from the trunks
of trees and shrubs to prevent crown rot.
-
The
first flowers you'll see will be your weeds.
Work to eliminate the weeds (roots and all),
before they have a chance to go to seed, or
you will be fighting them for years to come!
-
Slugs and snails
are out in full force right now. Be sure to
take steps to control them now, before they
have a chance to reproduce and devastate your
garden.
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