May Gardening Tips

Plant

Spring annuals: Blue salvia, dianthus, marigolds, pentas, portulaca, vinca, zinnias
Spring vegetables and herbs: Basil, cucumber, eggplant, melon, pepper, squash
Trees, shrubs and cactus.
Citrus, fruit and nut trees.
Re-pot patio and houseplants if necessary.

Citrus: Feed citrus in the ground around Memorial Day with Happy Frog Citrus and Avocado or Down to Earth Citrus.
Spring flowers: Continue a regular fertilizing schedule with Happy Frog Fruit and Flower or Grow More Super Bloom.
Spring vegetables and herbs: Continue a regular fertilizing schedule with Happy Frog Tomato and Vegetable or Down to Earth Vegetable Garden.
Trees and shrubs: Continue a regular fertilizing schedule with Happy Frog or Down to Earth All-Purpose Fertilizer.
Roses: Continue a regular feeding schedule with Grow More Magnum Rose or Happy Frog Fruit and Flower.
Deciduous fruit trees (apple, peach, plum etc.): New plants use Happy Frog All Purpose or Down to Earth Bio-Live. Established trees, once new leaves begin to appear, feed with Happy Frog Fruit and Flower or Down to Earth All Purpose.
Houseplants: Fertilize with a full strength feeding of Grow More Sea Grow.

Shrubs: Hand prune to shape or control size.
Deciduous Fruit trees: If your tree is loaded with fruits you should begin thinning (remove) some of the fruits. Remove the smallest fruits so only three per 12 inches remain. This will make the remaining fruit bigger and juicier.

If you are thinking of adding to your garden or patio this is a good time to do research on plants. What is their mature size, sun and water requirements, bloom color and season?
May 25 is typically our first day of 100F. Stock up on shade cloth for your sensitive plants.

Watering: Observe your plants as the temperatures increase and adjust your watering schedule.
Pests: As the weather warms keep an eye out for unwanted visitors. Spray them off with water or come see us for suggestions.
Weeds: Continue to pull weeds while they are small. If your weeds have taken over, we have a selection of herbicides for you to choose from.
Irrigation: Check for leaks and clogged emitters. Add more emitters, or upgrade existing, to accommodate growing plants.

Semi circle holes on leaves: Leaf cutter bees are solitary, non-aggressive bees. The females harvest the leaf cuttings to build their nests. The damage is purley aestetic, and no damage is done to the plant. They do not eat the leaves so pesticides are not effective.
Blooming cactus: Apply a high phosphorus fertilizer, like Happy Frog Fruit and Flower or Down to Earth Bone meal, to encourage more blooms.