Things to do in May: Lawn and Landscaping
Lawn Care
□ Mow the lawn frequently . . . enough that you don't remove more than 1/3 the total grass blade at each mowing. Leave grass clippings on the lawn to reduce the need for fertilizer applications.
□ Mow high . . . for maximum weed prevention and drought tolerance - 2 1/2 to 3 inches.
□ Sharpen your lawnmower blade . . . A sharp blade cuts faster and will injure the grass blades less than a dull one. Disconnect the spark plug of your lawn mower before removing the blade.
□ Be careful when using a mower or power trimmer . . . around trees. Even slight damage to bark can make an entrance for borers and other damaging insects.
Planting
□ Do not purchase bare-root plants . . . after the new leaves have come out.
□ Plant hardy woody vines. . . . such as clematis, wisteria or Gold Flame honeysuckle any time this month.
□ Plant groundcovers . . . now.
□ Plant hardy water lilies . . . and other plants in pools early this month. Wait till the water reaches 70 degrees F to plant tropical water lilies.
Pruning
□ Prune these shrub after the blooms . . . Prune these shrub after the blooms have faded: Azalea, cotoneaster, duetzia, forsythia, lilac, rhododendron, spirea, weigela. Prune only if needed to shape and to promote new growth or to remove dead, broken, crossed or damaged limbs.
□ Prune hydrangea . . . early this month. Annabelle hydrangea can be pruned back to the ground and will flower on new wood. Japanese types, like 'Niko Blue', bloom on last year's wood.
□ Do not prune summer flowering shrubs . . . like hydrangea and butterfly bush after significant new growth has emerged, or you may be pruning off the flower buds!
Maintenance
□ Purchase a rain gauge . . . to determine if your garden is getting the inch of water it needs each week.
□ Soak trees and shrubs . . . planted in the last year once a week if there is no significant rainfall. Water more often if newly planted . . .
□ Fertilize spring flowering trees and shrubs . . . after the flower petals fall. Use one pound of 5-10-10 or similar fertilizer for every inch of diameter of tree trunk, or 1/2 pound per 3 feet of shrub height.
Pest Control
□ Inspect azaleas, pieris and pyracantha for signs of lace-bug . . . The upper leaves will have a bronzy appearance while the undersides have tiny black excrement spots. Treat with an oil or soap spray.
□ Clean old mulch away . . . from azaleas, boxwood, holly and roses to reduce the chance of overwintering insects or diseases. Add the old mulch to the compost pile and replace with fresh mulch.
□ Scout for scale crawlers . . . on euonymus, mugho pine and redtwig dogwood. Treat with insecticidal soap when the crawlers become active.