Ah, May. One of the most welcoming months of the year! Spring is in full swing, the sun is shining, and plants and gardens are blooming. May is also one of the busiest months for anyone and everyone who is planting - whether a bountiful garden, planters and pots, or veggies and herbs. Today, we're giving you "May Gardening Tips" broken down by location. Enjoy!
THE NORTHEAST
For many, the evenings and overnights are still quite chilly. Because of this, you want to be careful to plant flowers that won't droop in the cold air. Pansies and snapdragons are easy to care for, and can withstand a little cooler air. Herbs are okay, as well as greens such as lettuce, although you still want to wait other few weeks to really dig deep and start planting your entire vegetable garden. Avoiding hanging baskets for another couple of weeks would be ideal.
As far as pruning - i's a good idea to let things be, until your first blooms start to fade. As far as flower beds go, it's a good idea to wait another 2-3 weeks or so, well after Mother's Day.
THE MIDWEST
By now, folks in the Midwest are certainly seeing green grass, and perennials seem to be show up overnight! Right now is the ideal time to divide the perennials that need dividing. Adding topsoil and fertilizer won't hurt to your beds and this month is when you want to have all your spring lawn maintenance in the books.
As we creep to the middle of the month, you're more likely than not to start planting in the ground and in pots and planters, although many experienced gardeners continue to stick to the "I wait until Mother's Day" philosophy, which doesn't hurt either. Flower and garden season lasts much longer in the midwest, so you've got plenty of time to get your planting done, while still enjoying a full season for enjoying your efforts.
FLORIDA
We turn to the experts at Southern Living (www.southernliving.com) for May gardening tips for Florida!
Here's what they have to say:
Tropical shrubs for easy color and beautiful blooms are popular, with "Orange Peel" cestrum, firebush, jatropha, angel’s trumpets, yellow bells, Turk’s cap, and thryallis being good choices. These should be planted in full sun for most.
MOUNTAIN WEST
There are many great tips thanks to Better Homes and Gardens for all areas, but we loved what they had to say for the Mountain West: "The right plants and our mountain garden ideas can help them grow beautiful, colorful gardens from spring until fall. For year-after-year color, old-fashioned perennials and wildflowers can't be beat."
May is a fun and exciting month for all gardeners, including beginners and seasoned! Heading down to your local garden center is always your best bet. They will have knowledge on what plants and flowers grow best to your specific area.
TIP: Plan Ahead! Take note of where you're going to be planting, whether it's in a garden or in planters and pots. Be aware of how many hours of shade and sun those areas get, so your garden center expert will be able to assist you better. Measuring the space, and taking photos will help even further.
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