If you’re looking for gardening tips to take advantage of the warm months, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few great things you can do to get started, including planting season crops and perennials, and even preventing and controlling pests and beneficial insects.
Planting season crops
May is a good month to plant season crops. The weather is warmer and the soil is easier to work with, so it’s a great time to start new plants. This is also a good month to transplant vegetables to prepare for the summer season.
There are many types of vegetables to consider planting. Some are suited to the warm temperatures of the season while others are better suited for cool weather. When deciding what to plant, make sure you have room for them. It’s important to avoid overplanting.
Some vegetables, like cabbage, require a little extra attention in the spring to ensure they will thrive. In the early part of the season, it’s a good idea to place a row cover over your garden to protect the crop from nighttime cold snaps. Another good tip is to water properly to keep the soil moist.
May is also a good month to add heat resistant lettuce to your garden. Melons, peppers, and summer squash are ideal warm weather crops.
Planting warm season flowers
May is a busy month for many gardeners. It’s the season for planting, cleaning out your bird feeders, and taking advantage of all those longer days. Here are a few spring gardening tips to help you get the most out of your efforts.
In general, the most important factor when planting new plants is to get them off to a good start. Keeping the soil moist is a good first step, but there are other things to consider like the temperature and moisture content of the soil. For the best results, you’ll probably want to water a few times a week, especially during dry spells. This is especially true for newly seeded lawns, and it’s also a good idea to check on the status of any new shrubs or trees you may have planted.
You could also use May to transplant some of your warm season flowering shrubs. If you are lucky enough to live in an area that is relatively warm year round, you’ll probably have an abundance of these plants in your backyard. To improve the chances of success, take a few notes from your gardening friends and get your rake ready.
Planting perennials
Perennials are a great way to add color to your garden. They are easy to care for and offer a range of variety. However, they can be expensive. So, before buying plants, make sure they will grow well in your climate.
Before planting perennials, check the type of soil they are planted in. If they are being planted in a new bed, it is best to amend the soil. By adding compost or organic matter, you will increase the soil’s health and make it more hospitable to roots.
Perennials need regular watering. This is especially true if they are planted in summer or fall. Watering will help remove air pockets. It also keeps the roots moist.
Besides watering, a mulch should be placed around the base of the plant. A mulch should be about two inches thick. You can use pine bark, compost, shredded bark or old leaves. The mulch should be spread so that it forms a donut around the plant.
Preventing pests and beneficial insects
There are many types of insects, including beneficial ones, which can be very helpful in your garden. Some of these bugs will eat pesky pests while others are helpful in controlling pests. A few of the more common types of beneficial insects are worms, lady beetles, and ground beetles.
Many gardeners are hesitant to introduce beneficial insects into their garden, but they can be an excellent way to control pests. They are attracted to plants that are rich in nectar and carbohydrate, and they use pest insects as food.
Adding neem seed meal and crustacean meal to your garden soil is a natural way to deter aphids and harmful nematodes. Another good option is to include a row cover. This will help to prevent disease and virus transmission.
A few of the most important pests to watch for in your garden are the corn earworm, squash bug, and tomato fruitworm. If you see a large number of these pests, it may be time to spray. Follow the label directions for application, and monitor your crops for damage.