One of the most beautiful things about the month of May is the richness of bird song in our gardens. Robins, thrushes, orioles and sparrows all belt it out now. It makes weeding, digging and mulching all that much more fun. So, while you enjoy the wild bird concerts, consider the following chores that can be done in the garden:
Water — Soon, the spring rains will be gone. It’s time to lug out the hoses and sprinklers and inspect them. Fix any leaks and replace worn gaskets. Flush and inspect drip irrigation lines. If you are new to irrigation, you might check out some of the amazing soaker hoses that are available. They hook right up to a hose and put the water directly to plant roots.
Feed — Now is the time to feed roses, berries, perennials, newly established fruit trees and just about all landscape ornamentals. If you wish to keep the lawn green all summer long, give it a good feeding also. For most plants, an all-purpose fertilizer that is slow release will be good enough. Blueberries, rhododendrons and azaleas prefer acid fertilizers. After fertilizing always apply water.
Plant — This month the soil is warm and moist, ripe for planting just about anything. Warm-season vegetables available for planting include corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, winter and summer squash. Herbs include dill, basil, cilantro, chives, parsley, oregano, rosemary and more. These days, busy nurseries are well-stocked with shrubs, trees, bedding plants and roses.
Mulch — Once a vegetable garden is planted, it is important to mulch with rice straw. This inexpensive material will keep weeds from taking over and conserve a good deal of moisture. It quickly forms a tight mat.
Protect — Newly planted vegetable and flower starts need to be protected from a number of pests. Birds, mice, slugs, snails and spotted cucumber beetles are common pests. The best way to protect is to use iron phosphate based baits for slugs and snails. Row cover placed over young starts will protect them from birds, mice and beetles.
Terry Kramer is the site manager for the Humboldt Botanical Garden and a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. Contact her at terrykramer90@gmail.com.
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May 07, 2020 at 03:31PM
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North Coast Gardening: Time to water, feed and plant - Eureka Times-Standard
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