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May
- Set out annuals now. Plant these warm season plants after the danger of frost has passed.
- You still have time to plant Dahlias and can get your Tuberous Begonias in the ground. Begin a feeding program two weeks after you set them out.
- Herbs and Vegetables can be put in when the soil warms. Basil, Dill, Fennel, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme, Beans, Corn, Eggplant, Melons, Okra, Peppers, Pumpkin, Squash and Tomatoes can be planted now.
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Fertilize as soon as annuals get established. Liquid foods like fish emulsion
works well because the nutrients go directly to the roots. For perennials use liquid or granular fertilizer. Shrubs will be happy with a granular fertilizer scattered around the base of each plant. For lawns apply a high nitrogen fertilizer evenly over the grass to keep it growing thick and green. This will help crowd out any weeds. A healthy thick lawn is usually weed free.
- Prune shrubs. Take the old flowers off the Hydrangeas if you haven't all ready. They bloom on last years wood growth so pruning them in the fall will cut off the flowers. Lilacs and Rhodies can be cut back after blooming. Remove dead damaged or diseased branches and any that cross. Then prune for shape working from the bottom of the plant and from the inside out.
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Trim hedges. Shear or clip them between now and early June. Be sure to make the bottom wider that the top. Leaving the top wider is the cause of dead and dying leaves and branches near the bottom. The wider top shields the bottom from much needed light. A good rule of thumb is to shear coniferous hedges and clip broadleaf one.
- SLUGS, SLUGS, SLUGS! Your newly set out plants are fodder for those slimy creatures.
Washington State University Extension Master Gardener volunteers provide non-biased, research-based information on home horticulture and environmental stewardship in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties, Washington. The purpose of this non-profit foundation is educational: to enhance the Washington State University Master Gardener outreach program and to make our homes and communities as healthy and beautiful as possible.