MAY is the joyous month of the yr, when young and old are working of their gardens. Perennials at the moment are coming into bloom, however the numerous bulbous flowers are placing forth each effort to distract our consideration from their truthful sisters. The unwise annuals are developing, making ready for his or her profusion of bloom, overlooking the truth that different vegetation are conserving some energy for one more yr; The wildflowers of the woods are hastening to bloom for worry they won’t full their duties earlier than the leaves of the bushes shade them.
The North
Parrot Tulips, with their sensible red-and-yellow blooms and their peculiar petals, by no means fail to draw attention.
Dwarf Iris are in full bloom. Remember which you can get them in virtually all the colours worn by their taller cousins, the German Iris. The Dwarf Iris are a much-neglected however deserving group of vegetation.
Dahlias, both from cuttings or tubers, could also be planted as quickly as all hazard of frost is previous. All dahlias prefer a reasonably unfastened, well-cultivated soil. You should definitely prepare them to a single stem.
Peatmoss is available in alkaline in addition to acid types, altho the acid is the commonest. It could be properly to ascertain which you might be getting, particularly in case you are utilizing it for rhododendrons and different acid-soil vegetation.
Staking is essential for a lot of tall-growing flowers, reminiscent of delphinium and Helenium, and for greens, reminiscent of tomatoes. Order these stakes early and place them earlier than the vegetation begin to break within the wind. Don’t tie the stems too tightly to the stakes or they are going to be injured after they enlarge via progress.
It’s a lot better to make the preliminary tie upon the stake after which tie the plant to it. This prevents slipping of the plant, and in addition permits one to extra gracefully organize the shoots.
Bedding Crops. It’s now secure to set out vegetation bought from florists, reminiscent of verbenas, geraniums, and co-leus, and all different bedding vegetation.
Evergreens which are balled and bur-lapped might be planted earlier than they begin into lively progress.
Thinning. Candy Peas typically sprout up too thickly, and higher outcomes will comply with thinning them in order that they’re 6 or 8 inches aside within the row. This additionally applies to many of the annuals which we sowed earlier, most of which can produce splendid symmetrical vegetation if they’re given ample area; for instance, Candy Alyssum, zinnias, marigolds, poppies, and phlox must be a minimum of 1 foot aside, altho for many of them 2 toes would trigger nonetheless higher specimen vegetation. Cosmos must be planted 3 toes aside. A superb symmetrical plant is extra stunning than an overcrowded, leggy specimen.
Lawns. In beginning to mow the garden, make sure that it isn’t lower too brief, as it’s properly to permit the grass to make sufficient progress to fabricate its meals.
Roses. Start spraying roses with a bordeaux-mixture or mud with Massey mud.
Biennials are vegetation that dwell two years. The seed is sown one yr and the vegetation bloom the following, after which they die. Now could be the time to sow the seeds of such widespread biennials as Canterbury-bells, foxgloves, and hollyhocks. They won’t bloom this yr however will make massive, sturdy vegetation.
Home vegetation might be a lot better off for the summer time if the pots are buried within the floor so the floor of the soil is even with the highest of the pot. They need to be positioned on the north aspect of the home beneath a tree.
Broadleaf evergreens, such because the rhododendron, mountain-laurel, and Andromeda, must be liberally mulched with peatmoss or leafmold.
The bagworm is turning into extra severe annually due to lack of any nice effort to regulate it. Thoro spraying with arsenate of lead as quickly because the insect begins feeding will quickly impact management. It helps an incredible deal to hand-pick these bagworms until the bushes are too tall.
Tender waterlilies could also be positioned within the swimming pools.
Fish must be put in each lily pool as quickly as attainable to catch the early crop of mosquitoes.
Pink spider, which is injurious to many vegetation, particularly to arborvitae, could also be managed.
Most annual flowers should be sown this month. Even the tenderest annuals might be sown after Could 15.
The West Coast
Plant chrysanthemums now to switch beds of annuals that are via their finest bloom.
Seeds. Proceed to sow vegetable seeds and annuals in open floor.
Backyard and the Garden. The lengthy dry spell is about due, so sustain watering the backyard and garden. Additionally sustain cultivating.
Tithonias, generally referred to as Mexican-sunflower, develop 5 to six toes tall, and the vegetation bear vivid orange-red, daisylike flowers. The seeds are sown this month. They may flower properly in the summertime.
Tropical Crops. Evergreen shrubs could also be planted this month, additionally numerous tropical vegetation, reminiscent of paperplant (Papyrus), bamboo, elephants-ear, and bird-of-paradise-flower.
Propagate from cuttings the succulents, reminiscent of cactus, Aloe, Crassula, Echeveria, Sedum, and Mesembryan-themum.
Bulbs. Take up such bulbs as have ripened their foliage, particularly after the clumps have gotten crowded. They might be saved in odd paper sacks or in dry buckwheat hulls or peatmoss. Freesias must be stored dry all summer time in any other case they need to be dug.
Bugs. Aphids, thrips, and pink spiders are plentiful this month. See web page 65 for his or her management.
The South
Within the Gulf states Could is for a lot of gardeners largely a upkeep month, when, aside from cultivation and different care, one can calm down a bit.
Transfer palms, particularly giant ones, late this month or early subsequent, in regards to the time the rains set in. Fertilize with natural plant meals.
Make cuttings of chrysanthemums and root in sand.
Crops of tropical waterlilies can be found.
Shrubs. As quickly because the shrubs have completed bloom, they might be given a thoro pruning to induce a progress of excellent sturdy branches for subsequent yr’s bloom.
Annuals. To switch among the early annuals which have handed, plant Torenias, Vincas, petunias, and numerous semi-tropical foliage vegetation.
Oleander is well grown from lowertings, rooted in sand, and even in water. These cuttings must be constructed from the mature wooden. The Oleander ought to by no means be partially reduce, however ought to have the outdated canes lower out clear to the bottom.
