In the Calendar this Month
May: Bring on the Flowers
I've always looked forward to May the most and not because of my own gardening activities but because of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The festival has always been amazing to me with flowers, gardens, topiaries, music and educational events. We've been going now for the last five years and every year I am in awe. This year however, much to my daughter's chagrin (well ok, mine too!) we have decided to skip the trip. With my son being stuck between the interesting ages of 1 and 2 we are just not adventurous enough to travel down there with him. So Disney will have to wait for us next year. But what this does mean though is I get to spend a lot more time in the garden this May, a very important month for preparing and beginning new growth.
Spring Cleaning... still
Hasn't this been going on since March? How come you're not done yet?!? Or I am the only procrastinator? Seriously now, if your gardens aren't clear yet it's time to retire the rake and hoe, and just call it a year. But we are not going to do that. So let's get out there and get this done once and for all! Rake the gardens and clear the lawn. Once the garden beds are clear you should top dress them with compost. Also, now is the time to assess deer and frost damage around your landscape and replace affected trees and shrubs with hardier stock.
Garden Projects
Remember the list of garden projects we made back in January? Now's the time to start construction projects like pergolas and retaining walls or erect fencing and trellises. With these bare skeleton structures up and in place the garden you have been envisioning should be starting to become clear.
Finally Getting Something Out of It
Start seeds of warm-season vegetables like peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes the first week in April. These will be ready for transplant into the garden in late May. Start seeds of herbs, such as dill, parsley and basil, inside through the end of the month, as well as flowers like zinnias and marigoldsWe can now start to enjoy spring flowers like peonies and early roses. Lilacs always signal Mother's Day in my garden, and make a fragrant bouquet for Mom. Also we can now enjoy the first harvest if you have asparagus to pick, pick those long-awaited first spears.
OK Enough Sitting Around Smelling the Flowers
Here they come and they are coming fast� weeds! Start controlling weeds now by pulling them as they start.
As for planting goes, Memorial Day is also the safe planting out date for tender annuals, dahlias, and tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. I do the majority of my annual garden planting and direct sowing this weekend as you know it is now safe from frost or too cold nights for the most part. Though it is still down in the 60's for the most part here in NJ and its already mid-June. What is up with that?!? Doesn't keep my daughter out of the pool though!
Check out the full calendar, available here, for tips and tasks to perform in the garden every weekend of every month in the year.