Gardens And Verses: May Tips

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature.” — Alfred Austin

Early month:

• Plant outdoors cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage.

• Prune roses.

• Seed or sod new buffalo grass or blue grama lawns.

• Weed garden beds.

• Prune overgrown spring-flowering shrubs such as lilac right after they have finished flowering.

• Harvest lettuce, spinach, radishes and green onions.

Mid-month (after Mother’s Day):

• Plant outdoors: beans, basil, summer squash, sage, melons, peppers, dill, cilantro, corn, celery, eggplant, tomatillo and oregano.

• Do not plant tomatoes until daytime and nighttime temps are consistently above 55 degrees. Protect new plants when temperatures fall below 55.

• Cut spent flowers from spring-blooming bulbs. Keep the leaves on to provide food for next year’s bulbs. Pull only after they yellow and come out easily.

• Apply the first application of organic fertilizer.

• Plant perennials, annuals and containers.

• Plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus, dahlias and canna.

• Add new mulch to help control weeds and moisture while keeping the roots cooler.