At last! We can be thinking "May" and all the pleasant images that word creates in our minds...instead of dealing with thoughts of February freeze-ups, March gales and an unpredictable April! Yes, May is a favorite month for gardeners, landscapers and other outdoor enthusiasts. And somehow, even the "chores" we must do in May seem less like chores and more liketherapeutic activities! But before you lie back in the hammock listening to the ice tinkling in that glass of lemonade (or something stronger) take a look at my list of chores (or "floral therapy," if you prefer) that you should be thinking about in May. Depending on your geographic location, the timing can vary somewhat. If you're not sure ofyour Plant Hardiness Zone, drop me a line via e-mail and I'll able to give you more personal information. And now for the Plant Man's "floral therapy" list: Lawn care Have you had a soil test done in the past couple of years? If not, this should be on your list. You can find one or two complete columns devoted to soil and soil-testing, archived at my web site www.landsteward.org Click on "The Plant Man" in the menu and scroll down through the column titles. You can also contact your nearest Agricultural Extension Service who can point you in the right direction. If you want to go ahead and fertilize your lawn without knowing the specific pH level of your soil, I suggest you play it safe and buy a bag of fertilizer with the ratio 3-1-2 or 4-1-2. Even if you're not sure what that means, don't worry: your lawn will know! Shrubs and trees If you're planting a bed that will be seen mainly from one side, remember to plant the taller shrubs at the back to avoid obscuring the smaller plants. Obvious? Perhaps not at the time you're planting! Just take a moment to compare the relative "mature height" of each of your plants. Feel free to ask my personal advice if you're not sure. New trees? Yes, the WILL need watering, but avoid the temptation to over-water. Tree roots can rot in heavy clay soil with poor drainage, as regular readers of this column know! But if you have sandy soil there is a tendency to apply too much water as it seems to just disappear. A tip: poke a finger down to the root ball of your new tree under the soil. If it feels really dry, you need to water. If it feels moist, you probably don't. Pruning Pests Look for aphids, or plant lice, that can be found on tender, new growth of most kinds of plants. Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that like suck plant sap, and you'll often find them in very large numbers! A word of caution: don't assume all "bugs" are harmful! Many insects feed off the pests that damage your plants. Elimination those "good" bugs will do more harm than good, so be very cautious about using chemical insecticide sprays. And finally...If you'd like something to read while you swing in your hammock, you can always subscribe to my free weekly e-mailed newsletter, especially if the cord on your laptop reaches all the way out to your yard! The Plant Man is here to help. Send you questions about trees, shrubs and landscaping to steve@landsteward.org and for resources and additional information, including archived Plant Man columns, visit www.landsteward.org where you can also subscribe to Steve's free e-mailed newsletter.
By now, your lawn should have woken up and begun to look more like a lawn and less like a mudpatch covered in wisps of straw. A good raking should pick up most of the "thatch" as that dead, straw-like stuff is called.
Again, a soil test will help you determine if you need to add some lime to get your soil to the correct balance for what you're growing. The addition of peat or compost dug into the soil can add nutrients, too.
Although the best time for pruning fruit-bearing trees is now past in most areas, it is still a good idea to check your trees and shrubs for broken or damaged branches. If you leave them un-pruned, larger limbs could fall and cause an injury, and damaged branches that are allowed to fall of their own accord can strip the bark and expose the trunk to the elements and insects.
Speaking of insects, remember to check your plants for signs of insect damage. For instance check azaleas for lace bugs, slow moving, black insects with clear, lacy wings that like to feed on the underside of the leaves.
