May Gardening Tips from Pike Family Nurseries

May is a very busy gardening month in the southeast. In today’s busy world, it is hard to find the time to get everything done. But don’t think of gardening as just one more chore. Unlike the other chores you face each day, you may actually enjoy working in your garden!

Give it a try. Get outside in the fresh air and get your hands in the soil. Gardening is a great way to spend a sunny spring day. It can lift your spirits, clear your mind, help you to relax and exercise your body. What other leisure time activity provides so many benefits? The best part of all is you will be rewarded for your efforts with a spectacular landscape and a true sense of accomplishment. No kidding…it really is fun to play in the dirt!

May’s Gardening Checklist:

• For best results, prune and fertilize azaleas and other spring flowering plants just after they finish blooming.
• Get rid of the pansies. It’s time to plant warm season annuals for continuous color until frost. Choose old favorites like Geraniums, Impatiens and Marigolds or try something different. Dragon Wing Begonias, Setcresia and Sweet Potato Vines make a real impact in the landscape. 
• Time to plant warm season vegetables. Cucumbers, eggplant, melons, peppers, squash and tomatoes can be planted now and enjoyed this summer. 
• Freshen mulch around trees, shrubs and flower beds. Mulches inhibit weed growth and help to conserve moisture in the soil. 
• Begin spraying roses with a fungicide to discourage the development of black spot and other diseases. 
• Add perennials to your garden. Selection is great this month. Try long-blooming daylilies, purple coneflowers, Shasta daisies and gaura. 
• Got shade? Try ground covers instead of grass. English ivy, dwarf mondo grass, hosta and pachysandra are just a few varieties that perform well in woodland shade to partial shade. 
• Keep an eye out for insects. Aphids, lacebugs and scales may already be hatching. If detected, spray your plants with an insecticide according to package directions. Most insects are easier to control in this early stage. 
• Plant an instant lawn. Warm season sod varieties, like Bermuda, Zoysia and Centipede, are widely available now. Water new sod daily for the first two weeks. 
• Remember Mom. Mother’s Day is May 9th. Surprise your mom with a hanging basket or blooming plant. Plants are the gifts that keep on giving.