While May can still have some cold nights, days can get quite warm. Don’t let the cold fool you! Start planting. Use row covers to protect your sensitive plants from late frosts and to extend your growing season. Consider Native and drought tolerant species that will thrive in the high desert. Consider plants like penstemon, juniper, and lavender. May is a good time to plant heat-loving vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, provided they are given enough water and mulch. Keep reading for more helpful tips!

Plant Doctor Quips

Moana Lane Plant Doctor, Michael Roth, says, “What a wonderful time of year to be sharing the enthusiasm of having a vegetable garden.  If you have any spring crops, start harvesting them regularly to promote further production. For example, collecting herbs, leafy greens, and early radishes can continue to stimulate new growth and yield. Maybe you have a bountiful crop of Collard Greens and your neighbor has more beans than they expected.  Sharing produce with your neighbors and everyone comes out winning.”

Our South Virginia Plant Doctor, Steve Packer says, “Keep your garden tidy by removing any debris, fallen leaves, or dead plants that could harbor pests or diseases. Check your garden tools and irrigation systems to ensure they are functioning correctly as the growing season ramps up. If you want to add more beauty to your neighborhood and create more neighborly goodwill, offer to plant a colorful perennial or two in your neighbors yard so that you both can enjoy them!  It’s always a win-win situation.“

Our Moana Lane plant doctor, John Bruyn, says, “In May, our pollinators wake up in mass and become very active. With this, we need to plant the plants that they would like so they can be attracted to our yard. Consider planting plants that will bloom when you need pollination. Fruit trees bloom in spring, so a spring blooming plant would help with them. Summer vegetables bloom in the early and mid summer so a similar corresponding bloom time for perennials and shrubs in your yard will attract bees and butterflies to your yard.  During these times we also need to be aware the insecticides kill insects indiscriminately so we must be very careful about what insecticides we are spraying, how they work, and the characteristics of the plants we are spraying, so we do not inadvertently kill all of our pollinators.“

Our Pyramid Way Plant Doctor, Jeni Lowery says, “May is our abundant rose month, come in and check out our wide range of beautiful roses that we get in just in time for Mother’s Day. You can spoil yourself and Mom with a brand new pair of leather rose pruning gloves to make the gift complete. We also have some incredible blooming fertilizer from Fertilome to make your neighbors jealous.”

Bird Nerd, Lisa Braginton explains, “This is a perfect time of year to be out and about in the garden and in nature. Tap into all the great things that connecting with the natural world does for our well-being. Activities like gardening, tending to plants, and feeding the birds can help lower blood pressure and make us feel more relaxed, as well as yielding healthful harvests, beauty, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are benefitting local bird populations. It’s also the perfect month to add a jewel to your landscape by placing a beautiful hummingbird feeder and inviting these delightful birds to visit!“

MAY
Moana Nursery High Desert Gardening
Timely Tips

  • Continue to monitor nighttime temperatures. Sudden last-minute changes to below freezing temperatures can cause a great deal of damage.  Be prepared to cover tender plants.
  • Water at optimum time – when winds are calm and temperatures are cool – early in the morning.
  • Water deeply and less often – saturate root zones and let the soil dry to encourage strong, deep roots.
  • Fertilize perennials, shrubs & trees if not done so already.
  • Clean ponds and add bacteria supplements such as Pond Perfect to keep the pond balanced and algae-free.
  • Turn and activate the compost pile with water, garden soil, G&B Organics All Purpose Fertilizer and Fertilome Compost Maker.
  • Mow lawn at 3 to 4 inches, removing no more than one-third of the leaf blade.
  • If you haven’t already done so, fertilize your lawn with G&B Organics Lawn Fertilizer.
  • Continue to kill cheatgrass and other weeds with Bonide KleenUp HE® Weed & Grass Killer.
  • Schedule an audit of your irrigation system with one of Moana’s certified landscape irrigation auditors to ensure you’re not wasting water. Contact 825-0602, x134 to schedule.
  • To control aphids, start with Ladybugs and a hose. (See life cycle of ladybugs so that you don’t inadvertently kill off their eggs, larvae or pupae.) If infestation is great, use Fertilome Triple Action Plus, Bonide Tomato & Vegetable Spray.  Fertilome Rose & Flower Food Plus Systemic can also be used on all ornamentals.
  • Plant warm-season flowering annuals, vines, herbs and vegetables with G&B Organics Starter Fertilizer and a handful of Worm-Gro with each plant. Pinch back 1/3 of new growth to encourage stocky habit (except vines and vegetables).  Wait two weeks before feeding newly planted annuals with anything other than starter fertilizer.
  • Treat broadleaf weeds in lawn and garden now with pre-emergent Hi-Yield Herbicide Granules Weed & Grass Preventer, Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper or Bonide Weed Beater Complete.
  • Put your Rescue yellow jacket traps out now.
  • Apply 3 inches of G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner or Purely Compost around plants to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperatures, and reduce weeds. Keep mulch 3” away from trunks of trees and plants. 
  • Very important:  remove tree stakes and ties from trees & shrubs planted a year ago or longer.
  • Knock back suckers and sprouts from roots around ornamental and fruit trees with Bonide Sucker Punch.  Use the brush top applicator while pruning out water shoots from plum trees.
  • Prevent nuisance fruit on ornamental trees & shrubs with Monterey Florel® Brand Growth Regulator.
  • Continue to inspect trees and shrubs for insect and disease problems; treat immediately with appropriate product.
  • Prune spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, lilacs, quince, almond, viburnum, magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas) immediately after they bloom. 
  • Gently pull off dried flowers of azaleas and rhododendrons, taking care not to break sticky, new shoots located at the base of the flowers. This is a great time to fertilize with G&B Organics Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Fertilizer and mulch with G&B Organics Acid Planting Mix.
  • Break off half of each elongated bud (candle) by hand on mugo pines to maintain compact form. 
  • Continue to plant new perennials, ornamental grasses & roses. Consider new plantings for birds and pollinators. 
  • Stake tall perennials before they reach 6 inches.
  • Begin to regularly pinch back fall-blooming perennials – mums, asters & tall sedums; pinch weekly until mid-July to promote stocky growth.
  • Remove dead vines and begin to direct new growth onto their supports. Encourage climbing roses to develop lateral, flower-bearing canes.
  • Deadhead (remove blooms) spring bulbs once they’ve finished flowering but allow foliage to wither completely before removing.
  • Stake peonies to support blooms when they reach 10” in height.
  • Plant summer bulbs like dahlias, gladiolus and lilies with G&B Organics Bud & Bloom 
  • Treat emerging lily shoots and other plants with Plantskydd if rabbits and deer have been a problem.
  • Monitor all annual plantings in containers and window boxes.  On windy days, hanging baskets will require water every day.
  • Continue pinching back fall-blooming perennials – mums, asters & tall sedums; pinch weekly until mid-July to promote stocky growth.
  • Continue to direct perennial vines on their supports.  Encourage climbing roses to develop lateral, flower-bearing canes.
  • If earwigs have shown themselves, get ahead of them with Bonide Bug & Slug Killer.
  • Gradually move houseplants outside to protected areas.  Place large house plants potted in plastic into larger, heavier pots to keep them from falling over in the wind.  Do not expose to afternoon sun.  Monitor regularly for pests.
  • Use G&B Organics Worm-Gro as a natural insecticide.  Make a little room on top of the roots to top dress with a thin layer of worm castings, then a layer of G&B Organics Blue Ribbon Potting Mix and water in.  This benefits plants by increasing resistance to insects and disease and increases water retention for potted plants.
  • Prune and fertilize overwintered tender plants like hibiscus, gardenia & geranium with G&B Organics High Bloome Fertilizer or Grow More Sea Grow; take outside once night temps are 40 degrees or warmer.
  • Move citrus trees (Meyer’s lemon, etc.) outside when night-time temperatures are above 45 degrees.  Fertilize with G&B Organic Citrus & Fruit Tree Fertilizer.
  • Continue to feed houseplants remaining indoors monthly with Fertilome Houseplant Hero Fertilizer according to the directions, adding SUPERthrive (1 drop per cup or ¼ tsp. per gallon of water) every time you water.
  • Begin to harden off warm-season transplants, moving them into a shaded area for 14 days and gradually increasing their exposure to direct sun.  Bring them in at night if the temperatures fall below 40 degrees. Once properly hardened, they can be transplanted out in the garden, usually by mid-May. 
  • Spread several inches of G&B Organics Purely Compost or G&B Organics Harvest Supreme on vegetable and herb beds. Use as a mulch and/or continue to use as an amendment while you are still planting. For increased resistance to pests add a layer of G&B Organics Worm-Gro under the mulch and a handful to every new planting.
  • Place codling moth traps in apple trees now – 1 per tree in an easily accessible location.  When trap reveals several moths, spray tree with Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew. Since codling moths produce up to 4 generations (one every 6 weeks), it’s important to install a new trap and repeat spraying every 6 weeks for continued fruit protection.
  • Plant corn, tomatoes, snap beans, summer squash and herbs with G&B Organics Starter Fertilizer.
  • Hummingbirds have arrived & orioles will begin appearing any day.  Now’s the time to put out oranges and grape jelly for orioles and WBU Hummingbird and Oriole Nectar for both hummingbirds and orioles.  Be sure to change the sugar water every few days so it doesn’t spoil.
  • Continue to supply fresh water and change it every 3-5 days to keep it clean.  To prevent the chance of disease, clean birdbath weekly with a weak bleach solution and rinse well. 
  • Install a customized Wild Birds Unlimited bird feeding station where you can easily watch the birds it attracts.  It can be installed in the ground or on a deck.
  • Are you seeing young bird families or nesting behavior?  We can help identify birds in your yard if you have a question and help make your yard the place for them to be!
  • Offer Nesting Blend; WBU Bark Butter, Cake or Bits; Peanut Butter n’Jelly Suet Dough and mealworms to provide the extra calcium & protein needed during nesting and molting season.
  • Clean all bird feeders with hot soapy water and a bleach solution of 1-part bleach to 10 parts water.  Rinse and thoroughly dry before refilling.  Feeders should be cleaned and bleached every 2-3 months to prevent disease from spreading and to keep feeders in good condition. 

Feederscape Consultation
If you want our expert help setting up a feeding station at your home or business schedule a consultation today. Our Bird Nerd will help you make your landscape a refuge for birds and humans alike. 

Our Seasonal Color Team can help you with custom containers, annual planting beds or a simple refresh of your existing garden. Schedule a free consultation today! 

Need help with your indoor plants? Contact our Interior Plant Services team. They can help you design, install, and maintain your indoor plants! Want a WOW plant presentation? Ask about installing a LIVING PLANT WALL! Examples of plant walls are available to see at both our Moana Lane and Pyramid Way locations.