May Weather Statistics
Average
daily high: 80 degrees
Average daily low: 56 degrees
Average rainfall: 3 inches
• If it seems like you just get home as your flowers are
closing up for the day, try annuals that are at their best
at twilight. Evening flowers open at night or release their
fragrance at night to attract night-flying pollinators such
as moths. Petunias open by day and release their scent at
night. Flowering tobacco is a night bloomer with a sweet
scent. Moonflower vine, angel trumpet, night phlox and
night-scented stock are a few other choices. Select
white-flowering varieties of other plants for the best
visual impact as daylight fades.
• When spring-flowering shrubs have finished blooming,
prune where needed.
•Wait until tomatoes set their first hand of fruit before
fertilizing with 10-10-10. Repeat in three weeks. When the
soil temperature reaches 70 degrees, it’s time to plant
warm-weather vegetables such as lima beans, southern peas,
okra, sweet potatoes, peppers, watermelon and cantaloupes.
•Begin fertilizing Bermuda grass lawns this month at the
rate of one pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
Reapply at this rate in June, July and August. Apply half
this amount in September.
•Mowing your lawn at the proper height for the type of
grass is especially important as temperatures rise. Keep
Bermuda grass lawns at around one inch. Fescue and
fescue-bluegrass lawns should be cut no shorter than three
and a half inches. These heights will help maximize turf
density and crowd out weeds as well as the other, less
desirable grass type.
•Remember to water newly-planted shrubs and trees unless
there is an inch or more of natural rainfall during the
week. A two o three-inch layer of fresh mulch will help
conserve moisture and keep the soil cool. Keep the mulch a
few inches away from the trunks of the plants.
•Fertilize blueberries, blackberries and grapes this month.
Find out just what your berries need with a free soil test
from Cooperative Extension Service. Phone (336) 570-6740
for more information.
•Continue to plant summer-flowering bulbs in the flower
border. Cannas, callas, dahlias, gladiolas, caladiums and
elephant ears are a few colorful choices. Pinch out growth
tips of newly-planted annuals to promote branching and make
stockier plants. Continue to remove spent flowers of
annuals and perennials throughout the season.
•When spraying to combat insect pests, keep in mind that
beneficial insects share the same plants as the bad guys.
Use low-toxicity pesticides when possible, spray at dusk,
and avoid spraying flowers as pesticide residues can harm
bees. Always read and follow label directions for safe
pesticide application.
•Move your houseplants outdoors when night temperatures
stay above 60 degrees. Avoid sunburn on the leaves by
moving the plants gradually from the relative darkness of
the house to their bright summer location. Start in a shady
spot and progress slowly to brighter light.
• That first juicy, vine-ripened tomato from your garden is
so close that you can almost taste it. There are a few
simple things you can do to extend your tomato season:
first, avoid overhead watering, but try to keep soil
moisture even. This will help reduce disease problems.
Soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems are good ways to
achieve this without wasting water. Mulching will also help
keep soil moisture even. Wait until tomatoes have set the
first hand of fruit before fertilizing with 10-10-10 or
another balanced fertilizer. Repeat in three weeks.
• When spring-flowering shrubs have finished their show,
prune where needed. If rate of growth has been below par
but plants are generally in good health, you may fertilize
with a slow-release or organic fertilizer at this time
• Begin fertilizing Bermudagrass lawns this month at the
rate of one pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
Reapply at this rate in June, July, and August. Apply half
this amount in September.
• A second round of crabgrass preventer should be applied
around May 15th. For cool-season lawns, be sure that the
product you use contains no fertilizers. These lawn grasses
need to rest for the summer.
• Mowing your lawn at the proper height for the type of
grass is especially important as temperatures rise. Keep
Bermudagrass lawns at around one inch. Fescue and
fescue-bluegrass lawns should be cut no shorter than 3-1/2
inches. These heights will help maximize turf density and
crowd out weeds as well as the other less-desirable grass
types.
• Plant sweet potatoes, okra, beans, southern peas,
watermelons, and cantaloupes this month when soil
temperatures have reached 70 degrees or higher.
• Fertilize blueberries, blackberries, and grapes this
month. Strawberries are ready for harvest now. Visit a
pick-your-own farm or buy some at the farmer’s market –
there’s nothing better than strawberries fresh from the
field!
• Continue to plant summer-flowering bulbs in the flower
border. Cannas, callas, dahlias, gladiolas, caladiums, and
elephant ears are a few colorful choices. Pinch out growth
tips of newly-planted annuals to promote branching and make
stockier plants. Continue to remove spent flowers of
annuals and perennials throughout the season.
• When spraying to combat insect pests, keep in mind that
beneficial insects share the same plants as the bad guys.
Use low-toxicity pesticides when possible, and spray at
dusk when the bees have all gone home. Always read and
follow label directions for safe pesticide application.
• Houseplants can be moved outside now. To prevent
unwelcome guests from taking up residence this summer,
gently remove the plant from the pot and place a piece of
fine-mesh screening over the drainage holes before
replacing the plant in the pot.
• Prune spring-flowering shrubs, if needed, after they
finish blooming. Next year’s flowers will form on growth
produced this summer. Now is the time to fertilize shrubs
if they need a boost. Use a slow-release or organic
fertilizer.
• Begin fertilizing Bermuda grass lawns this month at the
rate of one pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
Reapply at this rate in June, July and August. Apply half
this amount in September.
• A second application of crabgrass preventer should be put
down around May 15. For cool-season lawns, be sure that the
product you use is crabgrass preventer only – no fertilizer
now, please!
• Mowing your lawn at the proper height for the type of
grass is especially important when heading into summer.
Keep Bermuda grass lawns at 1-1/2 inches or shorter.
Cool-season grasses, such as fescue, should be cut no
shorter than 3-1/2 inches. These heights will help maximize
turf density and crowd out weeds as well as the other, less
desirable grass types.
• Water newly-planted trees and shrubs unless there has
been an inch or more of natural rainfall.
• Plant sweet potatoes, okra, beans, southern peas,
watermelons and cantaloupes early this month, when soil
temperatures have reached seventy degrees or higher.
• Wait until tomatoes set the first hand of fruit before
fertilizing with 10-10-10. Repeat in three weeks. An even
supply of moisture applied to the root zone of the plant
(rather than from overhead) will help to reduce disease
problems in tomatoes. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation
systems are good ways to achieve this. Applying a layer of
mulch will also help to keep the moisture level in the soil
even.
• Continue to plant summer-flowering bulbs in the flower
border. Cannas, callas, dahlias, gladiolas, caladiums and
elephant ears are a few colorful choices. Pinch out growth
tips of newly-planted annuals to promote branching and make
stockier plants. Continue to remove spent flowers of
annuals and perennials throughout the season.
• When spraying to combat insect pests, keep in mind that
beneficial insects share the same plants as the bad guys.
Use low-toxicity pesticides when possible and spray at dusk
when the bees have all gone home.
• Houseplants can be safely moved outside now, but keep an
eye on the thermometer. If the nighttime temperatures drop
below 50 degrees, move the plants back indoors for the
night.
• Fertilize warm season grasses such as Bermuda and zoysia
now. Re-apply crabgrass preventer to all lawns around the
15th of the month. Raise lawn mower blade to 3 1/2 inches
for fescue , or lower to 1 1/2 inches for Bermuda lawns.
• Apply fresh mulch to a depth of 2 - 3 inches to border
plantings, trees and shrubs to conserve moisture, keep soil
temperatures cool for the summer and discourage weeds.
• For lasting summer color, continue to plant
summer-flowering bulbs such as cannas, callas, dahlias,
gladiolas, caladiums and elephant ear.
• Prune azaleas, if needed, after they finish flowering.
Next yearÕs flowers will form on growth produced this
summer. Now is the time to fertilize too, if the plants
need a boost.
• Water newly planted shrubs and trees weekly unless there
is an inch or more of natural rainfall.
• To promote branching, pinch out growth tips of
chrysanthemums now. Continue to remove spent flowers from
annuals and perennials to encourage further bloom.
Fertilize annuals monthly with a water-soluble fertilizer.
• May is the preferred time to treat perennial weeds such
as ground ivy, English ivy, oxalis, greenbriar, Virginia
buttonweed and multiflora rose. Call the Alamance County
Cooperative Extension Office for pesticide recommedations
and rates.
• Prior to planting your summer vegetables, incorporate 2
pounds of 10-10-10 in a 100 square foot garden by tilling
to a depth of 4-6 inches. Begin planting lima beans,
southern peas, okra, sweet potatoes, peppers, watermelons
and cantaloupes. Three to four weeks later, side dress at
the rate of 1 pound of 10-10-10. Wait to fertilize tomatoes
until after the first hand of fruit is set.
• Fertilize water garden plants such as lotus and water
lilies once a month. Use a special, pelletized water plant
fertilizer pushed into the soil around the plant. This will
help reduce the risk of nitrogen-induced algae bloom.
• Begin harvesting herbs as soon as the plants have enough
foliage to maintain growth. You may remove as much as
one-half of the plant at a time.
