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Tom's Monthly Gotta-Do's

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Dry spring weather has made it tough to grow plants in containers. They dry out so quickly. If a plant dries out too fast, it may be an indication it has too small a pot. Stepping it up a pot size or two may help with the watering and makes for better plant growth too.

One way to help with the watering is keep a saucer under the plant at this time of the year. It holds the extra water that drains through the containers and keeps it ready for use. This may supply up to a day of watering.

Here are some more tips we use to conserve water at this time of the year. Catch the water from the air conditioner for watering container plants. We can capture 4 to 8 gallons of water per day. Also, save the water from dinner glasses. This too is used for plants indoors and outside too. We also catch the first cold water before showers. This is used for the roses. And also don’t forget to put a cistern under the down spouts. When it does rain here is a reserve for the dry times.

Tomatoes are a major concern for many gardeners. Here are some secrets. Keep the plants moist but not wet. Use a mulch to stretch the time between waterings. Trellis the taller plants. Feed the plantings every 3 to 4 weeks. And lastly keep control of aphids and caterpillars. Plenty of natural controls are available for these pests. One more thing – if you grow tomatoes in containers, make sure it is a big one. Plants in too small a pot end up with cultural problems like blossom-end rot.

Now there is a lot to do this month so I have a list of Gotta Do’s.

Tom's Gotta-do's for May, 2012
Lawn Care:
May is the last month to fertilize lawns before fall in many areas - check local ordinances
An iron only application or a minor nutrient spray can often regreen yellow lawns
 Chinch bugs started early in St. Augustine causing yellow to brown sections - treat as needed.
May is still a good month to add new sod and plugs to bare or problem areas in lawns.
Now through summer is a good time to seed bahia lawns
 Try to stretch the time between waterings; wait until spots in the lawn start to wilt to water
Measure leaf blades to make sure the lawn it being cut at the proper height 
Consider allowing drought tolerant grasses to go dormant during dry weather. 
Dig out or spot kill weeds and replace with plugs of grass or sod 
Aerate compacted and hard to wet lawns.
Select shade tolerant grasses or an ornamental ground cover for difficult shady spots
In the Landscape:
Planting time for cool season flowers is over; only plant warm weather selections.
Groom plants to regain their natural shape after spring growth
 Avoid shearing where possible; remove out of bounds shoots with hand pruners 
Prune azaleas and camellia before they start setting new flower buds.
Prune palms by only removing brown fronds and old flower portions.
Feed palms with an 8-2-12 or similar slow release palm fertilizer according to labels.
Look for new plants to use in the landscape like bromeliads, orchids and other foliage plants.
Display orchids in shady landscape spots and feed every other week with a liquid fertilizer.
Repot orchids and bromeliads overflowing their containers
Prune poinsettias back 4 inches every time they produce a foot of new growth.
Add slow release fertilizers to container plantings to reduce the number of feedings needed.
Feed shrubs, vines and ground covers as seasonal rains return
Save lots of water by irrigating trees and shrubs separately from lawns and only when needed.
Maintain a mulch layer over tree and shrub roots to help conserve moisture.
Save fertilizer; older shade trees seldom need special feedings
Select plants for pool and patio areas that do not drop messy flowers or foliage.
 Keep new tree and shrub plantings moist as permitted by water restrictions.
Create shady gardens with low light requiring flowers, shrubs, bulbs and foliage plants.
Fertilize all flower beds and shrub plantings as the rainy season returns
Transplant palms when the rainy season returns
Control black spot & mites affecting rose plantings
Feed water lilies and lotus monthly
Begin rooting cuttings of favorite shrubs and perennials
Pull or spot kill weeds among shrubs and flower beds and add a mulch.
Vegetable and Fruit Care:
It’s too late for most tomatoes, peppers and eggplants; select summer tolerant vegetables
May is the last month for many herbs that cannot stand the heat and rains
Start sweet potato transplants from a grocery store purchase
Give citrus, grapes and other fruits a late spring feeding.
Prune blackberries and blueberries when fruiting is over.
Trellis vining crops to save space and prevent diseases 
Feed vegetable plantings monthly.
Establish soil solarization treatments to control nematodes and diseases
 Incorporate compost with planting sites to improve sandy soils.
Purchase seeds now for later plantings; seeds are often removed from stores during summer
House Plants Chores:
Give weak and thinning foliage plants a spot outdoors to recover.
Check water needs daily and moisten when the surface soil feels dry
Repot plants that have outgrown their containers
Remove yellow leaves and faded flowers
Reshape taller tree form foliage plants and remove declining limbs
Divide African violets, bromeliads and orchids
Wash pests and dust away with soapy water.
Feed outdoor foliage plants monthly or use a slow release fertilizer.


May 2012 Plantings

Flowers: Angelonia, balsam, begonias, black-eyed-Susan, blue daze, bromeliads, browallia, bush daisy, butterfly weed, cat's whiskers, celosia, coleus, coreopsis, crossandra, Dahlberg daisy, gaillardia, gazania, gerbera, goldenrod, gomphrena, impatiens, liatris, marigolds, melampodium, moon vine, nicotiana, nierembergia, pentas, periwinkle, Porter weed, portulaca, purslane, salvia, sunflowers, torenia, verbena and zinnias.

Vegetables: Calabaza, chayote, cherry tomato, collards, dasheen, lima bean, snap bean, Malabar spinach, malanga, New Zealand spinach, okra, hot pepper, roselle, Seminole pumpkin, Southern pea, sweet potato, tamarillo, yam and yard-long bean.

Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, cardamom, chives, coriander, dill, lemon balm, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory, sweet marjoram, mint, tarragon and thyme.

Bulbs: Achimenes, agapanthus, blood lilies, bulbine, caladiums, calla lilies, cannas, crinums, day lilies, eucharis lily, gladiolus, gloriosa lilies, peacock ginger, society garlic, spider lilies and rain lilies.


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