May marks the start of the main planting season as the risk of frost fades and warm days encourage strong growth in vegetables, herbs, and flowers. It’s an ideal time to prepare soil, plant summer crops, and enjoy cool mornings and sunny afternoons that help gardens quickly come to life. Read on for more timely gardening tips!

Plant Doctor Quips

Nick Macaluso, Plant Doctor at our Pyramid Way store, explains, “May is a great time to fertilize all of your plants. I like to fertilize my annuals with the rooting and blooming fertilizer by Fertilome. This is a high phosphorus fertilizer that helps your annuals pump flowers out all season long. For my herbs and veggies, I like G&B’s organic veggie fertilizer. As for my other plants, I switch between the all-purpose and acid fertilizer both by G&B. I like to use organic fertilizers for my veggies, trees, and shrubs because they feed the microbes in the soil in addition to the plants. Healthy soil plays a large part in the health of your plants. If you have any questions about what fertilizers you should be using, come in and ask one of our many knowledgeable staff. “

Steve Packer, Plant Doctor at our S. Virginia store, says, “May is the time to do some drip irrigation maintenance: (1) Move your drip emitters further out to the drip line of your trees and shrubs. (2) Clean or replace any plugged emitters. (3) Repair any leaks (mark leaks with a ribbon or irrigation flag, so you know where the leak is after you shut off the water). (4) Cover any exposed drip tubbing (not emitters) with mulch to protect tubing from destructive UV rays of the sun.”

Jeni Ware, Plant Doctor at our S. Virginia store, says, “If you are brave enough to plant your tomatoes and peppers outside, consider using the Dalen Walls of Water – it’s how I sleep at night with our tricky rollercoaster temperatures. They are plastic tubes that you fill with water and they absorb the solar heat from the day and retain that warmth for your root ball in the cooler nights. They also provide wind protection, just a little portable greenhouse for your favorite veggies. And once the plants are large enough to outgrow it, we are usually in the clear and your plants are thriving and productive.“

Emily Middleton, Plant Doctor at our Moana Lane store, explains, “May is one of the most beautiful months, and for good reason! As the bridge between springtime and summertime, there are many species of plants that are blooming during this period. During this time, it becomes important to prune only as necessary according to the specific needs of your garden. For shrubs that flower on old wood (lilacs, forsythias, viburnum, and other early spring blooming plants), make sure that you’re pruning them immediately after flowering. This allows the plant lots of time to grow next year’s flowering branches. Other shrubs that bloom in the summertime on new wood like to be pruned in late winter or early spring; wait on pruning them to maximize the number of flowers you’ll get. Avoid pruning deciduous trees in the summer as they can weep excess sap, but you can pinch back the candles of your evergreen trees to control the growth at the edges. Fruiting plants can be thinned for larger, tastier fruit. Finally, deadheading your annuals will extend their bloom time and keep them looking fresh all season. It’s best practice to take note of what kinds of plants you need to prune on a yearly basis and mark the appropriate times in your calendar to keep track, so you don’t accidentally sabotage next year’s growth, flowers, or fruit!“

Josh Cruz, Plant Doctor at our Pyramid Way store, explains, “As warmer temperatures return in May, so will bug and insect pest populations. Using nature’s own solutions to combat these issues can be one of the most environmentally friendly and cost-efficient control strategies. One of those solutions comes in the form of natural predators, AKA beneficial bugs and insects, such as ladybugs! Beneficial bugs feed off one or more pest species, continually helping you suppress pest populations even while your efforts are focused elsewhere. At Moana Nursery we carry several options of beneficial bugs, including aphid predators like ladybugs and lacewings, beneficial nematodes that can help control multiple soil dwelling pests, and even praying mantis, the apex predators of the insect world! Each type of beneficial bug has not only different release/application methods, but some also have different ideal environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. So, when selecting beneficials, be sure to choose one that will both feed on your target pest(s) as well as survive in your climate’s conditions. Many beneficials are sensitive to the same pesticides used for pest species; using beneficial bugs in conjunction with chemical controls can require careful planning and consideration for timing to avoid harming your beneficial bugs.“

Jacob Burgess, from our Moana Lane location explains, “May is the month when we really start to wake up and get busy in our gardens. It’s the perfect time of year to get ahead of the summer heat stressors and try to optimize the efficiency of your garden. One of the biggest things you can do is by topdressing or mulching. I love to use G&B soil building conditioner as a topdressing and mulch for my entire garden. This product has a lot of goodies in it that really help build soil composition, moisture retention, and regulate soil temperatures. Mulching will also help soften the weed load within your garden beds! Doing this will also make all of your plants really pop within your landscape, making for more vibrant and beautiful plants. Make sure to come into Moana Nursery and talk to us if you have any questions on building healthy soil. Happy planting!“

Bird Nerd, Annemarie Tillotson explains, “Cleaning Hummingbird feeders every couple of days (or every day in peak heat) is necessary, but can still be tiring. Consider using Nectar Defender, a liquid made from mineral micronutrients found in a Hummingbird’s natural diet, to extend the shelf life of nectar to nearly 2 weeks. Hummingbird feeders can also be placed in shaded locations to slow down spoilage. When choosing a location for your hummingbird feeder, select 1-2 moderately shaded locations (1 feeder per location if territorial hummingbirds are present) with nearby large flowering plants for further food and protection from predators.“

May
Moana Nursery High Desert Gardening
Timely Tips

  • Continue to monitor nighttime temperatures. Sudden last-minute changes to below freezing temperatures can cause a great deal of damage. Be prepared to cover tender plants.
  • Water at optimum time – when winds are calm and temperatures are cool – early in the morning.
  • Water deeply and less often – saturate root zones and let the soil dry to encourage strong, deep roots.
  • Fertilize perennials, shrubs & trees if not done so already.
  • Clean ponds and add bacteria supplements such as Pond Perfectto keep the pond balanced and algae-free.
  • Turn and activate the compost pile with water, garden soil, Fertilome Compost Maker and any organic fertilizer.
  • Mow lawn at 3 to 4 inches, removing no more than one-third of the leaf blade.
  • If you haven’t already done so, fertilize your lawn with G&B Organics Lawn Fertilizer.
  • Continue to kill cheatgrass and other weeds with Bonide KleenUp HE® Weed & Grass Killer.
  • To control aphids, start with Ladybugsand a hose. (See life cycle of ladybugs so that you don’t inadvertently kill off their eggs, larvae or pupae.) If infestation is great, use Fertilome Triple Action Plus or Bonide Tomato & Vegetable Spray. Fertilome Rose & Flower Food Plus Systemic can also be used on all ornamentals. Alternate between insecticides on a rotating weekly basis when infestation levels are high – this will ensure your aphid populations are not developing a tolerance to certain controls.
  • To prep your lawn for a hot summer, now is a good time to use Fertilome’s HuMic Granular Acid. Humate is a great soil additive to increase water retention in the soil and gives your lawn a lush green color without overfertilizing. Applying this before the true heat of the summer will allow your grass to keep its density and absorb water from irrigation more effectively, which can decrease your water bill over time!
  • Plant warm-season flowering annuals, vines, herbs and vegetables with G&B Organics Starter Fertilizer and a handful of Worm-Gro with each plant. After planting, make sure to water in the soil with Superthrive to allow roots to acclimate and reduce the symptoms of transplant shock. Pinch back 1/3 of new growth to encourage stocky habit (except vines and vegetables). Wait two weeks before feeding newly planted annuals with anything other than starter fertilizer.
  • Treat broadleaf weeds in lawn and garden now with Bonide Weed Beater Ultra or Bonide Weed Beater Complete.
  • Put your Rescue yellow jacket traps out now. 
  • Apply 3 inches of G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner around plants to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperatures, and reduce weeds. Keep mulch 3” away from trunks of trees and plants.  
  • Very important: remove tree stakes and ties from trees & shrubs planted a year ago or longer.
  • Knock back suckers and sprouts from roots around ornamental trees with Bonide Sucker Punch.
  • Continue to inspect trees and shrubs for insect and disease problems; treat immediately with appropriate product.
  • Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, lilacs, quince, almond, viburnum, magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas) immediately after they bloom.
  • Gently pull off dried flowers of azaleas and rhododendrons, taking care not to break sticky, new shoots located at the base of the flowers. This is a great time to fertilize with G&B Organics Blueberry, Azalea & Camellia Fertilizer and mulch with G&B Organics Acid Planting Mix.
  • Break off half of each elongated bud (candle) by hand on mugo pines to maintain compact form.
  • If you desire to move some of your larger houseplants like cacti or citrus outside for the warm weather, wait until night temperatures are consistently above 55 degrees F.
  • Add Fertilome Houseplant Systemic Insect Granules to ornamentals before moving outside to ensure pests do not infest upon outdoor entry.
  • Place large house plants potted in plastic into larger, heavier pots to keep them from falling over in the wind. Do not expose to afternoon sun. Monitor regularly for pests.
  • Use G&B Organics Worm-Gro as a natural insecticide. Make a little room on top of the roots to top dress with a thin layer of worm castings, then a layer of G&B Organics Blue Ribbon Potting Mix and water in. This benefits plants by increasing resistance to insects and disease and increases water retention for potted plants.
  • Prune and fertilize overwintered tender plants like hibiscus, gardenia & geranium with Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fish & Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer. Take outside once night temps are 50-55 degrees F or warmer. Move citrus trees (Meyer’s lemon, etc.) outside when night-time temperatures are above 50-55 degrees. Fertilize with G&B Organics Fruit, Citrus & Berry Fertilizer.
  • Continue to feed houseplants remaining indoors with Fertilome Houseplant Hero Fertilizer according to the directions, adding SUPERthrive (1 drop per cup or ¼ tsp. per gallon of water) once a month when you water.
  • Continue to plant new perennials, ornamental grasses, & roses. Consider new plantings for birds and pollinators.  
  • Stake tall perennials before they reach 6 inches.
  • Begin to regularly pinch back fall-blooming perennials – mums, asters & tall sedums; pinch weekly until mid-July to promote stocky growth.
  • Remove dead vines and begin to direct new growth onto their supports. Encourage climbing roses to develop lateral, flower-bearing canes.
  • Deadhead (remove blooms) spring bulbs once they’ve finished flowering but allow foliage to wither completely before removing.
  • Stake peonies to support blooms when they reach 10” in height.
  • Plant summer bulbs like dahlias, gladiolus and lilies with G&B Organics Rose, Flower & Bulb Fertilizer. 
  • Treat emerging lily shoots and other plants with Plantskydd if rabbits and deer have been a problem.
  • Monitor all annual plantings in containers and window boxes. On windy days, hanging baskets will require water every day.  
  • Begin to harden off warm-season transplants, moving them into a shaded area for 14 days and gradually increasing their exposure to direct sun. Bring them in at night if the temperatures fall below 40 degrees. Once properly hardened, they can be transplanted out in the garden, usually by mid-May.  
  • Spread several inches of G&B Organics Purely Compost or G&B Organics Harvest Supreme on vegetable and herb beds. Use as a mulch and/or continue to use as an amendment while you are still planting. For increased resistance to pests add a layer of G&B Organics Worm-Gro under the mulch and a handful to every new planting.
  • Place Monterey Codling Moth Traps in apple trees now – 1 per tree in an easily accessible location. When trap reveals several moths, spray tree with Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew. Since codling moths produce up to 4 generations (one every 6 weeks), it’s important to install a new trap and repeat spraying every 6 weeks for continued fruit protection.
  • Plant corn, tomatoes, snap beans, summer squash and herbs with G&B Organics Starter Fertilizer.
  • Hummingbirds have arrived & orioles will begin appearing any day. Now’s the time to put out oranges and Grape Jelly for orioles. Be sure to change the sugar water every few days so it doesn’t spoil. Change fruit slices every day. 
  • Continue to supply fresh water and change it every 3-5 days to keep it clean. To prevent the chance of disease, clean birdbath weekly with a weak bleach solution and rinse well.
  • Install a customized Wild Birds Unlimited bird feeding station where you can easily watch the birds it attracts. It can be installed in the ground or on a deck.
  • Are you seeing young bird families or nesting behavior? We can help identify birds in your yard and help you select all the supplies to help them thrive.
  • Offer Nesting Blend, WBU Bark Butter Cake or Bits, Bug, Nut & Berry Cylinders and Mealworms to provide the extra calcium & protein needed during nesting and molting season.
  • Clean all bird feeders with hot soapy water and a bleach solution of 1-part bleach to 10 parts water.  Rinse and thoroughly dry before refilling. Feeders should be cleaned and bleached every 2-3 months to prevent disease from spreading and to keep feeders in good condition.
  • Our Seasonal Color Team can help you with custom containers, annual planting beds or a simple refresh of your existing garden. Schedule a free consultation today!
  • Need help with your indoor plants? Contact our Interior Plant Services team. They can help you design, install, and maintain your indoor plants! Want a WOW plant presentation? Ask about installing a LIVING PLANT WALL! Examples of plant walls are available to see at both our Moana Lane and Pyramid Way locations.
  • Our expert Plant Doctors can help you with your high desert gardening;
    • Diagnose disease & insect problems on trees, shrubs & lawns;
    • Identify existing plants in your landscape and how to care for them;
    • Provide plant placement for DIY customers;
    • Provide a yard in review assessment of your landscape;
    • Stop by any location to ask questions or email plantdoctor@moananursery.com.
    • Plant Doctor on-site consultations are unavailable from April 16–June 1.