May Gardening Tasks: Plant and Strategize

May is an ideal time for gardening, especially between raindrops!

by Beth Barrett.

Now that May is here, here is a list of gardening activities for the month:

• Direct seed-tender annuals into the garden, such as cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums, nicotiana, snapdragons, and zinnias. 
• Plant dahlia tubers around the 15th of this month. Watch out for slugs, especially as the tender shoots appear.

  

• Plant patio containers by mid-month, typically around Mother’s Day
• Set up irrigation and soaker hoses.
• Tie sweet peas to their trellises.

  

• Add plants for late summer and fall color, such as Black-Eyed Susan, Japanese anemone, Echinacea, and Heleniums.
• Photograph your spring garden as a reminder for future planning. I find it helpful as I order next year’s spring bulbs. Note your favorite varieties to fill empty spaces in your garden. Bulb catalogs will start arriving soon.
• Remove spent foliage from daffodils.
• In the vegetable garden, transplant your hardened-off tomatoes once the overnight temperatures are consistently above 50 degree. (Cloths or protective “wall-o-water” extenders will help keep the warm-weather transplants cozy on chilly spring evenings.)

  

• By mid-May, direct sow beans, squash, cucumber, and corn.

Happy May Gardening!
Beth