What to do in the ornamental garden
Go on pest patrol . By on a regular basis inspect your rose bushes for pests and disease and rid of problems too soon on , you ’ll enjoy strong , healthy plant and beautiful , fragrant prime all the path through decline . supervise now for rose slugs ( Arge ochropus ) , evidenced by raggedy , semi - transparent , skeletonized folio . This not only ruins the visual aspect of your rose bush but diminishes their power to photosynthesize , resulting in light plants . Manage small infestations by pruning out taint leaf and picking off and destroying the pests . you could also hose them off with a blast of piss . If postulate , treat heavy plague with an insecticidal easy lay or a spinosad - based spray , being sure to spray both upper and low sides of the leaves . If you treat an infestation promptly , you ’ll interrupt the life rhythm of this sawfly larva , preventing future infestations from ravaging your rose bushes .
Deadhead and prune rhododendron . Most rhododendron ( Rhododendronspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) variety will have finish bloom by mid - calendar month . Immediately after unfolding , deadhead ( by worm off faded peak heads ) to prevent seminal fluid product and promote vigorous vegetative growth and bud for next year ’s blooms or else . These flowering buds are just under the old heads and will start to evolve soon after flowering , so if you decide to crop the shrub , be careful you do n’t cut back too far — unless your rhododendron needs mold or pruning to correct legginess .
flora pollinator - magnet perennial . It ’s a wondrous time to add to your collection of cosmetic perennials , filling in any gaps remaining in your garden beds . With farseeing days and abundant previous spring sunshine , choices are at their best in your local garden center in May . Why not plant milfoil ( Achilleaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , anise hyssop ( Agastache foeniculumand cvs . , Zones 4–11 ) , or lavender ( Lavendulaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–10 ) now to attract good pollinator to your garden ? study popping in a few hummingbird favorites such as ‘ Firebird ’ penstemon ( Penstemon‘Firebird ’ , zone 6–9b ) or Ananas comosus salvia ( Salvia elegans , Zones 8–11 ) . you’re able to easily produce a survive hummingbird feeder by planting an eye - catching fuchsia ( Fuchsiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–11 ) in an attractive hanging basket .
What to do in the edible garden
Thin emerging fruits on fruit trees . Before they reach an column inch in diam , it ’s prison term to reduce the number of untried fruits on your yield Tree to avoid limb damage from a heavy load of mature fruit and to ensure big , better quality at harvest time . Less crowded yield receive better air travel circulation , which helps prevent disease problems . They also receive more sunlight , improving yield color and flavor . Thin by breaking up the yield clump , removing smaller , injured , or misshapen fruit so that just one or two fruit of each cluster remain , leaving about 4 to 6 column inch between them .
implant your last - minute vegetable . It ’s your last fortune to establish transplants of tomatoes , eggplant , squash , melons , autumn pumpkin , and cucumbers and to direct seeded player beans and corn . Be sure to have an irrigation plan in place and to amend your grime well , digging in a healthy Cupid’s disease of rich , well - mature compost before planting .
When it comes to water …
Recheck your irrigation systemnow that the conditions is warming up and the bounce rains are few and farther between . Your growing plants demand even hydration , and a break or leak in the organisation or a blocked emitter could result in emphasis or even death if not catch in time .
set about your deep watering schedulefor your deep - take root ornamental and fruiting Tree . Deeply watering your Tree recharges mysterious soil layer , advance deep base organisation , and meliorate your trees ’ resiliency . Once every three to four weeks is adequate for most established tree , with younger plants doing best with two deep soaking per calendar month . easy hit it up ( a deluge hose is idealistic ) the entire surface area beneath the tree diagram canopy , extend 2 to 3 metrical foot beyond the drip line and moisten the land to a depth of 10 in each time you irrigate . Avoid soaking the area now around the trunk to prevent rot .
— Fionuala Campion is the owner and manager of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .
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Fill any gaps this month with a pollinator favorite, like this ‘Paprika’ yarrow (Achillea millefolium‘Paprika’, Zones 3–9).Photo: Fionuala Campion
Sawfly larva, also known as rose slugs, do recognizable damage to roses, resulting in wispy, semi-transparent leaves.Photo: courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden
Redirect energy toward next year’s blooms by deadheading rhododendrons to prevent seed production.Photo: Fionuala Campion
Hummingbirds love to sip from fuchsia blossoms.Photo: Fionuala Campion
There will be too many fruits on this peach tree for adequate growing conditions when the fruits set. Thinning the immature fruits helps ensure a higher-quality harvest.Photo: Rachel Young
Get the last of your veggies planted this month.Photo: Fionuala Campion
Check for leaks in your irrigation system now so that you’re not wasting a lot of water when the weather gets warmer.Photo: Steve Aitken
Avoid soaking the base of tree trunks when watering to prevent root rot.Photo: Fionuala Campion
