May Garden Guide For the Landscape

In Northern United States and Canadapruning is needed to Spring-flowering trees and
There is still time to plant evergreens. As long as youshrubs as soon as they are through flowering.
do this before the new growth is excessively farPoinsettias should now be brought out of storage
advanced, and as long as they have a good root balland started into growth. Continue to feed both
and are mulched and well watered after planting,greenhouse plants and house plants which have filled
they will live and prosper. May is a good time totheir containers with healthy roots.
transplant Magnolias and Tulip trees. Continue toIn the South
make sowings of hardy annuals and vegetables. AsFertilize Roses to stimulate new vigorous growth that
soon as the weather is settled and the groundwill bear a second flush of flowers in early Summer.
reasonably warm, make sowings of Corn,Mow lawns regularly and fertilize them lightly when
Cucumbers, Melons, Squash, Snap Beans and Limathe grass is dry. Water copiously if long spells of dry
Beans.weather occur.
When danger of cool nights has passed, set outFertilize annuals that seem not to be growing rapidly
Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants and green Dahliaenough. Cut back Petunias and Sweet Alyssum that
plants. Geraniums, Heliotropes, Lantanas, Coleus,are becoming straggly to induce bushiness and fresh
Cannas, Caladiums and Begonias may be plantedcrops of flowers. Make successional sowings of
outdoors late this month or early in June. Makehot-weather annuals. Dwarf Dahlias sown outdoors
successional plantings of Gladioli, Montbretias andnow will make a fine display of bloom later.
Tuberoses. Don't cut off the foliage ofIn the vegetable plot sow Soy Beans, Okra, Melons,
Spring-flowering bulbs until it has died completely.Watermelons, Corn, Snap Beans and Lima Beans,
If dry weather prevails, Peas, Sweet Peas and manySquash and Field Peas. Sow Tomatoes for late
other garden plants will benefit from copiouscropping. Stake Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplants
watering. Remember especially regularly to waterbefore they become so tall that there is danger of
trees, shrubs and evergreens planted this Spring.damage by storms. Apply a side dressing of fertilizer
Chrysanthemums, Summer Phlox and some otherto these and to Cucumbers, Corn, Beans and other
perennials that tend to grow excessively tall andvegetables in need of extra nutrition.
lanky may be induced to bush out if the tips of theirOn the West Coast
growing shoots are pinched out.Don't allow Fuchsias or Begonias to suffer from lack
Peony flowers will be larger and more perfect if youof moisture. Specimens that have filled their
disbud them by taking off the side buds when theycontainers with healthy roots benefit from feeding
are the size of small peas. Don't delay the stakingregularly with dilute liquid fertilizer also try to know
and tying of perennials. Toward the end of thehow to root lantana. Plants of Tuberous Begonias set
month is a good time to sow seeds of perennials andout in May bloom freely from mid-July on. Remove
biennials in a coldframe or sheltered seed bedold plants of Cinerarias, Primulas and others that
outdoors. After they have bloomed is a good time tomade such a brave show earlier and which are kinds
propagate by division Creeping Phlox, Arabis,that are discarded after flowering. Replace them with
Polyanthus Primroses and many other rock gardensuch kinds as Tuberous Begonias, Impatiens and
plants.Fuchsias where the location is shaded, with
Thin out young plants of vegetables and annuals thatAgeratums, Petunias, Zinnias, Dwarf Dahlias,
are crowding each other, and keep the hoe andSnapdragons and the like in sunny locations.
cultivator busy stirring the surface soil. Do whatever