May Gardening Activities - Region 4
May Gardening Activities – Region 4
Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Gardens
States in this region include: Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, DC, New Jersey, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Texas (eastern), Arkansas, and Tennessee.
-
Use some flowering shrubs and an attractive screening design to beautifully block unsightly utility boxes (or pond equipment) in the back yard. It's a great way to boost the look of your yard, as well as provide a little more privacy.
-
Try growing summer squash: Plant the seeds about 1 inch deep and water well. Cover the area with a floating fabric to protect sprouting plants from various insects. When the plants start blooming (in about a month), uncover them to allow pollinators to fertilize the flowers.
-
Plan and plant a cutflower garden filled with beautiful blooms to enjoy through summer and into the fall - indoors, as well as out!
-
Pinch back hardy mums every two weeks through mid-July. Remove one-third of the new growth each time to encourage bushier plants.
-
Remember that gardening is for kids, too! Encourage your budding green thumbs to spend time out in the garden. Plant a sunflower patch together, and enjoy a great learning experience!
-
Maintain adequate soil moisture for any recently sown grass seed. If your new or existing lawn doesn't receive an inch of rainfall each week, supplement with irrigation via sprinkler.
-
Make way for more vegetables or flowers in your garden with raised beds. They help conserve water, avoid possible drainage problems and give you an area to grow plants in fresh, nourishing soil. Another plus: You don't need to be a master builder to create your own!
-
Pay close attention to your newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials. It's time well-spent to irrigate deeply, remove weeds and apply several inches of organic mulch to the soil. These practices encourage deep root systems and healthy growth habits - essentials for plant survival now and when the hot weather sets in.
-
Allow the foliage of your spring-flowering bulbs - like hyacinths, tulips and daffodils - to yellow and ripen before you cut the leaves back.
-
Add a water feature to your landscape. Small ponds add interest and enjoyment for years to come. (And they're less work than you might think.)
-
Prune back azaleas, rhododendrons and lilacs immediately after flowering.
-
Start a vegetable garden. You'll save a fortune at the grocery store - and eat healthier - by growing your own produce!
-
Be on the lookout for signs of cutworm damage: If your young annual or vegetable transplants have suddenly toppled over just at the soil line, you may have received this pest's calling card. Frequent cultivation around plants - digging lightly around your planting beds - is an effective way of exposing cutworm larvae.
-
Repot houseplants that may need it. If you haven't started to fertilize your indoor plants for the season, now's the time to start. Once nighttime temperatures stay consistently above 55 degrees F, you can safely move your houseplants outdoors for their summer vacation.
