Gardening Tips for May

Here are some good tips for gardening in Alabama during the month of May. We update these regularly each month, so stay tuned for more in the Gardening Tips series!

Tips courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; for more information, see www.aces.edu.

Fruits and Nuts

• Continue spray program.
• Keep grass from around trees and strawberries.
• Peaches and apples can still be budded.

Shrubs

• Newly planted shrubs need extra care now and in coming weeks.
• Don’t spray with oil emulsions when temperature is above 85 °F.

Lawns

• Now is the best time to start lawns from seed.
• Water new lawns as needed to prevent drying.
• Keep established lawns actively growing by watering fertilizing and mowing.
• Spray weeds in lawns with proper herbicide.

Roses

• Spray or dust for insects and diseases.
• Fertilize monthly with complete fertilizer or rose special.
• Container-grown plants in flower may be planted.
• Prune climbing roses after the first big flush offlowering.

Annuals and Perennials

• Late plantings of bedding plants still have time to produce.
• Watch for insects on day lilies.

Bulbs

• Summer bulbs started in containers may still be planted.
• Do not remove foliage from spring flowering bulbs.
• Do not let seedheads form on tulips and other spring flowering bulbs.

Miscellaneous

• Mulch new shrub plantings if not already done.
• Avoid drying out new shrub, tree and lawn plantings.

Vegetable Seeds

• Plant heat-loving and tender vegetables.
• Start cauliflower, brussels sprouts and celery in coldframe for fall garden.

Vegetable Plants

• Plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and sweet potatoes.

Gardening Tips for March

Here are some good tips for gardening in Alabama during the month of March. We'll update these regularly each month, so stay tuned for more in the Gardeing Tips series!

Tips courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; for more information, see www.aces.edu.

Fruits and Nuts

• Continue strawberry and grape plantings.
• Bud apples and peaches.
• Start planting blackberries.
• Remember, if weather conditions prevent prompt planting, heel the plants in by placing the root system in a trench and covering the soil.

Shrubs

• Fertilize shrubs (except azaleas and camellias) according to a soil test.
• Late plantings may be made, particularly if they are container-grown.
• Watch shrubs for harmful insects.

Lawns

• Plant bermuda, zoysia, and centipede in South Alabama.
• Seed bluegrass and grass mixtures in North Alabama.
• Fertilize established lawns.

Roses

• Watch new growth for aphids.
• Begin a spray or dust program.
• Begin fertilizing.

Annuals and Perennials

• Tender annuals may be planted in South Alabama.
• Check garden centers for bedding plants.

Bulbs

• Plant gladiolus every two or three weeks if a long blooming season is desired.
• Plant tuberous begonias in pots.
• Plant dahlias.

Miscellaneous

• Check and repair sprayers, dusters, and lawn mowers.
• Control lawn weeds with chemicals.
• Delay pruning of fruiting shrubs such as cotoneasters, pyracanthas, and hollies until after flowering.

Vegetable Seeds

• Plant hardy crops recommended for January and February.
• After danger of frost is past, plant tender vegetables.

Vegetable Plants

• Plant cabbage, onions, lettuce, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts in North Alabama.
• Plant tomatoes and peppers in lower South Alabama.

Visit the Gerlach Plant Information Center inside the Garden Center during March and April for the exhibit Tomatoes: there is more to this crop than you think!