May Gardening Tips

You know what they say, April showers bring May flowers! We hope the saying goes for those with snow showers too! Though it might not seem like the weather is warming up, all we can do is chip away at what we can so that we can soak up as much sun as possible when the time comes. Looking to get more out of your May garden? We thought so! That's why we've created a helpful list of May-garden to-do's to keep you busy.

Lawn & Pond

	Start feeding fish as the temperature rises above 5-8 degrees and only feed them what they can eat in 5 minutes.
	May is an ideal month to sow new lawns.
	Use seed and sod starters to get your lawn off right.
	Start fertilizing waterlilies and lotus.

Clean up & Compost

	Lightly shear spring-flowering heather when finished blooming.
	Watch for weeding as temperatures increase weeds will spread quickly.
	Turn over compost or use it if it's ready. Start over!
	Mulch! Use plenty of mulch to retain moisture all summer long and prevent weeds. Tip: keep grass clippings, bark, pine needles, straw & more for mulching!

Plants

	Lightly shear spring-flowering heather when finished blooming.
	Begin taking routine pest watch strolls; problems treated early are easier to control.
	Deadhead roses and lilies as they fade and fertilize with Uka Blend.
	After flowering, deadhead spring flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths to preserve their energy for next year.
	Deadhead pansies and primrose after flowering.
	Plant summer flowering bulbs such as dahlia, begonias, calla lilies, canna lilies, gladiolus and lilies in frost-free areas like containers, beds and borders.
	Harvest cool-season vegetables; kale, cabbage, parsnip and spinach.
	Plant warm-season vegetables/fruit; onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, currants & more!
	Cultivate your vegetable garden regularly to keep the soil loose and allow oxygen to penetrate around the roots.
	Make sure the weather has warmed up and stays warm before planting celosia, impatients, zinnias, fuchsias or heliotrope.
	A good fertilizing program will go a long way to avoiding black spots and powdery mildew on roses.

Miscellaneous & More!

	Hanging baskets are ready! Choose your favourite blooms and be sure to pick up fertilizer to feed them every 10 days for a summer filled with blooms!
	Watch for weeding as temperatures increase weeds will spread quickly.
	Turn over compost or use it if it's ready. Start over!
	Mulch! Use plenty of mulch to retain moisture all summer long and prevent weeds. Tip: keep grass clippings, bark, pine needles, straw & more for mulching!

Have a suggestion or question?

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