- May is a great month to plant annuals, perennials, shrubs, roses, trees, and ground covers. Fertilize new plantings with Fertilome Root Stimulator.
- Plant bedding plant annuals, such as begonia, impatiens, periwinkle, petunias, caladiums, zinnia, etc. Fertilize with Dr. Earth Bud & Bloom or with Osmocote Plant Food.
- Plant tomatoes, peppers, melons, cucumber, sweet potatoes, eggplant, okra, etc. Fertilize with Dr. Earth Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb Fertilizer.
- Prepare soil in flower and vegetable beds with Back to Earth Soil Conditioner.
- Preen Weed Preventer has a specialized formula to keep weed seeds from sprouting for three months around trees, shrubs, and flowers.
- Fertilize Bermuda grass lawns with TLC Premium Lawn Food. Also if you did not fertilize cool-season grasses in April, do so in early May.
- Seed cool-season grasses, such as fescue as soon as possible.
- Best time to plant Bermuda grass seed is mid-May thru mid-August.
- Spray established lawn weeds with BioAdvanced All-In-One Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer.
- Nutsedge is a difficult lawn weed to kill but can be controlled with Image.
- Kill most common lawn pests, including ants, fleas, ticks, with BioAdvanced Complete Insect Killer.
- Spray Ortho Grass-B-Gon, a grassy weed killer, over the top of many flowers, ground covers, and shrubs. It kills bermudagrass, crabgrass, etc., in landscape beds without injuring desirable plants. Please read the label thoroughly for approved plants.
- After they bloom prune spring-flowering shrubs, such as Forsythia, Quince, Lilac, and Azalea. Also, fertilize them with TLC Tree & Shrub Food.
- Continue regular rose spraying and feeding.
- Apply Bonide Systemic Insect Control now to prevent bagworms and tent caterpillars.
- Be on alert for spider mite damage, spray with Bonide Neem Oil.
- Slugs, snails, and sowbugs (roly-poly) are often active in May, use Sluggo Plus. Apply in the evening when pests are more active.
- Proper watering of newly planted trees and shrubs often means the difference between success and replacement.
- Lace bugs, aphids, spider mites, bagworms, cutworms, flea beetles, etc. can start popping up in the landscape and garden later this month. Keep a close eye on all plants and bring samples of insects or damage to TLC Garden Centers for diagnosis.
May Gardening Checklist
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