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The Garden Website.com
​May

Amanda's Garden Consulting Company
'Sensation' lilac. 

Garden Chores for May

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Golden Chain Tree, Laburnum x watereri 'Vossii', lines a path at VanDusen Botanical Gardens.
​Design a Veggie Garden - Planting Veggies - Un-potting Plants - Companion Planting 
Using Bedding Plants/Annuals - Bedding Plant Designs - Just a Bit of the Top - Container Time - Easy Roses
Bugs - Spring Bulb Care - Pruning - Houseplants & Tropicals - Prepare Beds for Planting - Pollinators
Lawn Care for May - May Arrangement - May Garden Chores - Amanda's Garden Blog - For the Tropical Gardener
Plant of the Month: Handkerchief Tree - Need help?

Check out my May Garden 

Landscaper Wanted!

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Peace Garden Designs is a small, organic, environmentally-focused landscape gardening company operating in the Vancouver area looking for a seasonal full-timer, ideally with 2 years' experience or more. $20+ depending on experience.
​Please send your cover letter, resume (CV) and references. To learn more about us and see some of our past projects visit: 
peacegardendesigns.com.

May Intro

greenhouse growing,May garden chores
I've come to appreciate my greenhouse.
Hello Fellow Gardeners,
​Although I’ve had a greenhouse for a few years, I haven’t really used it - until this year. I’ve been too leery because it lacks a heater and fan, however, I dislike sharing my kitchen, office and guest bedroom with flats of seedlings. Enough already! There’s just too many seedlings and not enough space, so that greenhouse seemed a logical solution to my dilemma.
I am well aware of the difficulties of greenhouse growing since I did work in a few of them when I was in college. Providing the correct environment to ensure good germination and seedling health can be tricky, especially in early spring. Even with balmy daytime temperatures, those nighttime lows dip below freezing. And that is why I have not started seeds in the greenhouse before. Without a heater, thermostat and proper ventilation it would be a nail-biting endeavour.
However, our need was great and our greenhouse is a cute little thing, only 6’ by 8’, so armed with a heater and a thermostat, we thought we would give it a go. 
To be on the safe side and since it was only February, I sowed only cool season crops: lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, chard and peas. The flats were placed on seedling heating mats to encourage root growth, to keep frost at bay and to increase the ambient temperature within the greenhouse.
To keep an eye on the temperature, a remote sensor was placed in a dark corner of the greenhouse. It connected wirelessly to a display monitor placed in full view on the kitchen counter. It proved to be a valuable tool. It took the guessing out of what was going on out there just by looking at a display.
The heater was an obvious necessity as it is was only February. One really nice feature of the heater was the fan. As spring progressed, it got pretty hot when the sun was out, so popping open the one and only greenhouse vent and turning on the fan, helped cool the place down and provided a nice breeze to prevent diseases.
Since there is no power in the greenhouse we had to run an outdoor extension cord from the garage. To be on the safe side the heater and heating mats were plugged into a surge protector, which was located inside greenhouse, away from the weather.
In a way, growing seeds in the greenhouse was not just a necessity, it was an experiment. I am happy to say it was a successful one. I have learned a few lessons on the way. The biggest one is that even cool season crops like it above 5 degrees Celsius. Although the heater was on at night, it was so cold outside, it only made it to 5 degrees. So, I cranked up the heater so both elements were on and it rose to a balmy 8 degrees. The seeds responded favorably by germinating. Eureka! It was obvious that the rate of germination and subsequent seedling growth increased with each increased degree. When the nighttime temperatures rose to 10 degrees, the seedlings actually cheered and waved their little seedling leaves with joy. How happy they were to finally be warm.
Through this experiment, I have never been more glued to the weather forecasts. Of course I focused on those nighttime lows. The kitchen monitor was the first thing we’d check in the morning as we plugged in the kettle for tea. And yes, there were mornings when donned in my dressing gown and slippers I would run to the greenhouse to check on my wee green babies when we had a frosty night. Thank goodness they don’t offend easily, or else they’d be damaged for life.
Oh, and by the way, it’s May and time to get planting. Frost is no longer a threat for most of the northern hemisphere so it is time to get down, and get dirty.
Have fun planting and happy gardening. 

Cheers,
Amanda
Allium Purple Sensation,May flowers,flowering onion
Purple Sensation ornamental onion, Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'.

Amanda's Garden Blog

element_settings.Image_30621876.default
'Antoinette' bouquet tulip provide a backdrop for some bodaciously shaped river rocks.
​​Check out my blog and articles on my gardening experiments, trials. tribulations and excursions. Click on the items below to be directed to its page. 
  • Building a French Kitchen (Potager) Garden
  • Dahlias 101
  • Damping Off - A Seedling Killer!
  • Easy Roses Do Exist
  • Easy Vegetable Garden Trellis 
  • Garden & Botanical Tours
  • Growing Potatoes
  • How to Drain Soggy Soil
  • I Had An Ugly Lawn...
  • Lasagna Gardening, Sheet Mulching
  • Lawn Grub Control
  • Lawns: ​Seeding, Sowing, Renovating
  • Leaky Birdbaths and Slug Free Strawberries
  • Pruning Shrubs into Trees
  • Tall Kale Tales
  • Tomato Seedlings to Plants
  • Tuberous Begonias 101
  • Video: How to Divide Dahlias ​
  • Video: How to Plant a Tree

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Viola Matrix rose wing pansy
Matrix Rose Wing pansy.

Need Help?

May gardens,May flowers,May garden chores,pruning,bedding plants,annuals,planting plants,soil improvement,fertilizers,houseplants,tropical plants,vegetable gardening,companion planting,succession planting,crop rotation,mulch,The Garden Website.com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Need help figuring what to do in your garden? Make an appointment for Amanda to come to your garden to show you how to grow veggies, sow seeds, prune, design beds etc.  For an appointment click here. Covid-19 precautions are followed.

'Golden Parade' Darwin Hybrid tulips,May flowers,early tulips
Golden Parade Giant Darwin Hybrid tulips.

May Garden Stars

Rhododendron 'Fastuosum Flore Pleno',May flowering shrubs
Rhododendron 'Fastuosum Flore Pleno', broadleaf evergreen, 6-8’ x 6’-8’, sun to part shade, semi-double lavender flowers in May to June. Zones 7 to 9.
Paeonia suffruticosa,tree peony,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers
Tree peony, Paeonia suffruticosa, deciduous woody shrub, 3-5’ x 3-4’, sun to part shade. Zones 5 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
Weigela 'Florida Variegata',variegated weigela,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers
Variegated weigela, Weigela ‘Florida Variegata’, deciduous shrub, 4-6 ft. tall & wide, full sun to part shade, pink blooms May through June. Attracts hummingbirds. Zones 4 to 8.
Columbine,Aquilegia vulgaris,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers
Columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris, herbaceous perennial, 18" - 3ft, sun to part shade. Zones 3 to 8.
wood anemone nemerosa,May flowers,spring flowers
Wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa, herbaceous perennial, 0.50 to 1.50 ft, part sun to shade, summer dormancy, naturalizes. Zones 5 to 8.
Allium 'Gladiator' flowering onion,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers
Gladiator flowering onion, Allium 'Gladiator', summer fragrant, flowering bulb, full sun, 44 inches, Zones 4 to 8.

Jack-in-the-pulpit,Arisaema triphyllum,May flowers,woodland plants,plants for shade
Jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllym, herbaceous perennial, 1-2’ x 1-1.5’, flowers April to May, part to full shade, moist soils, woodland indigenous North American plant. Zones 4 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
Red-hot poker plant,torch lily,Kniphofia uvaria,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers
Red-hot poker, torch lily, Kniphofia uvaria, rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, 3’-4’ x 2’-3, sun. Zones 5 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
Camassia leichtlinii,Camas,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers
Large camas, Camassia leichtlinii, summer bulb, 3 – 4’ x 1 -2’, blue flowers April, May, Western North American native, sun to part shade, Zones 5 to 9.

Akebia quinata,chocolate vine,fragrant vines,May flowers
Chocolate vine, Akebia quinata, semi-evergreen vine, 20 – 40’ x 6 -9’, brownish purple fragrant flowers in March to May, finger shaped fruit, shade. Aggressive vine, invasive in Midwestern states. Zones 4 to 8
Mecanopsis baileyi,Himalayan blue poppy,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers
Himalayan blue poppy, Mecanopsis baileyi, short-lived herbaceous perennial, 3’ to 4’, dappled shade. Zones 5 to 7.
Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum,doublefile viburnum,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers
Snowflake Doublefile Viburnum, Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Summer Snowflake', deciduous shrub, 5-8 ft x 8 -19 ft. Full sun, part shade. Zones 5 to 8.

rock cresss,aubrieta deltoidea,flowering ground cover,May flowering plant
False rock cress, Aubrieta deltoidea, groundcover, evergreen, herbaceous perennial, up to 6", spreading, full sun, part shade, Zones 4 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
Papaver orientale,oriental poppy,May flowering plants
Oriental poppy, Papaver orientale, herbaceous perennial, 15” – 3’ x 1’ -2’, sun. Zones 3 to 8.
Lonicera Peaches & Cream honeysuckle,May gardens,spring gardens,flowering vines,May flowers
Peaches & Cream honeysuckle, Lonicera, deciduous vine to 5 feet, fragrant flowers attract hummingbirds & bees from May to June, sun to part shade. Zones 4 to 9.

Allium siculum,Sicilian honey garlic,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers
Sicilian honey garlic, Allium siculum, bulb, flowers late spring to early summer, 4’ x 12 -18”, deer resistant, sun. Zones 5 to 10.
deciduous azaleas,rhododendrons,May flowering shrubs,flowering broadleaf evergreens
Deciduous azaleas, Rhododendron cultivars, deciduous shrub, 2 -6’ x 2-5’, orange, yellow, pink, white or white flowers before leaves, some are fragrant. Zones 5 to 9.
Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe' moss phlox,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,flowering ground covers
'Candy Stripe', creeping or moss phlox, Phlox subulata, herbaceous perennial groundcover, to 6 inches tall x 2’ spread, full sun, drought tolerant, attracts butterflies. Zones 3 to 9.

Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim' Korean lilac,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May flowering shrub
Miss Kim Korean lilac, Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim', deciduous shrub, fragrant, part to full sun, 4 - 8ft x 5 - 7ft, slow growth. Zones 3 to 8.
Aurinia saxatilis,basket of gold,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,flowering ground covers
Basket of Gold, Aurinia saxatilis, deciduous ground cover, sun, dry, 1 ft x 1.5ft. Zones 4 to 7.
Mont Blanc Deutzia,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May flowering shrubs
Mont Blanc deutzia, deciduous shrub, fragrant blooms, attracts bees, butterflies, birds, 4 -5’ tall & wide, sun to dappled shade. Zones 5 to 8.

May PLANT COMBO

plants for shade,May plant combination
A shade-loving ensemble underneath a tall conifer.
Under a false cypress tree, this east facing garden provides adequate shade and light to accommodate these shade loving perennials. They all like moist, humus rich soil and a thick layer of mulch. The tall green frond-like canopy at the back are one of my favorite shade loving perennials, solomon seal (Polygonatum multiflorum). Below is mauve-pink rhododendron that was initially a cutting about 4 years ago. The white edged foliage plant is a 'Patriot' hosta and the pink flowers on the lower right are bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia 'Rot Blum').

Watering Restrictions start May 1

water restrictions Vancouver
For Metro Vancouver, B.C.
Water restrictions start May 1 and end October 15. If you don’t live in Metro Vancouver, contact your local municipality for their watering restrictions. Click here to find out what the local restrictions anywhere in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
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The current water restrictions are more restrictive for lawns, but they are more generous for vegetable and garden beds. ​

Watering trees, shrubs and flowers is permitted any day, from 1 am - 9 am if using a sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device.
  • Edible plants are exempt from regulations
Residential lawn watering schedule:
Even-numbered addresses: Wed and Sat, 4 to 9 a.m.
Odd-numbered addresses: Thurs and Sun, 4 to 9 a.m.
Non-residential (businesses) lawn watering schedule:
Even-numbered addresses: Mon, 1 to 6 a.m., Fri 4 to 9 am.
Odd-numbered addresses: Tues, 1 to 6 a.m., Fri 4 to 9 am

plant police

gardening without mulch,stopping weeds,how to garden
This is a city planting in Leamington Spa, England. The bed surrounded by paving so it's hot and dry; it's certainly not suitable for cool, moisture loving pansies. It would have been more successful if a 3 inch layer of an organic mulch such as chipped fir, had been layered on top of the soil between the plants. The mulch would insulate the soil against the elements keeping it cooler, wetter and would also reduce the many weeds. 

​DESIGNING A VEGETABLE GARDEN

vegetable gardening,crop rotation,crop succession,companion planting,growing vegetables,May garden chores
Make a plan of your veggie garden so you can rotate crops efficiently year to year.
  • Exposure: Locate your garden so it receives at least 6 hours of direct sun per day.
  • Partial light: Although there are no veggies that grow in total darkness, there are some that tolerate 3 to 6 hours/day: chard, kale, arugula, lettuce. If light is inadequate cabbage may not form tight heads, radishes and beets will be small, but their leaves will be healthy.
  • For areas that receive morning sun and shade in the afternoon try celery, carrots and bush beans.
  • Location: If possible, locate your vegetable patch close to an outdoor faucet and near the kitchen.
  • Soil: Improve the soil by mixing in at least a couple of inches of compost, composted manure, SeaSoil and other soil amendments that add nutrition and organic matter.
  • Size of Beds: Make the beds 4 foot wide so you can reach in from all sides. The length of the bed depends on your space, but remember you do have to walk around it. A garden that’s 4 foot wide and 6 foot long, is easy to navigate around. 
  • Larger Beds: For gardens larger than four feet in width, install a 2 foot wide path for easy access and to help define and organize the different crops.
  • Garden Paths: Use coarse cedar wood chips so they don’t decompose. Line the paths first with landscape fabric then add a couple of inches of mulch on top. Click here for more on vegetable gardening. 
  • Locating Plants: Place tall plants and vining veggies, such as trellised grown cucumbers, on the north side. This prevents the taller plants from shading their smaller neighbours. 
  • ​Rotate Crops: A map and photos of last year's garden are handy to have, especially when it comes to crop rotation. Don’t plant the same crop in the same place as last year or the year before. This is especially important if for veggies that have suffered from diseases, insects or for tired and sad harvests.  
  • Companion planting: Mixing different crops together improves their taste, reduces diseases, insects and takes advantage of all available space above ground and below ground. Alternatively some plants don’t make good neighbours.
  • Continuous harvests: Don't sow all the seeds in the seed packet at the same time. For a continuous harvest sow seeds 2 weeks apart. This is referred to as succession planting. 
  • ​To learn more about crop rotation, crop succession, companion planting click here. For more on vegetable gardening click here.​
vegetable gardening,crop rotation,crop succession,companion planting,May vegetable garden chores
Curly kale and carrots make an attractive combination.

Veggie Tips & Techniques

planting vegetables,vegetable gardening,crop rotation,crop succession,companion planting,growing organically,organic vegetables
Tomatoes should be planted at least 2 feet apart.
  1. Prepare the soil by removing all weeds and debris.
  2. Mix in a 2 or more inches of compost, SeaSoil, well-rotted steer or sheep manure. Mix it in just a couple of inches – that’s all that’s necessary.
  3. It’s advisable to wait a week for the soil to settle before planting.
  4. Select a cloudy day to plant if your schedule and weather allows.
  5. Water the veggie plants while they are in their pots the day before planting.
  6. Water the garden the day before planting especially if the soil is dry.
  7. Check your design by placing the plants, which are still in their pots, on top of the ground where you are planning to plant them. Adjust as necessary.
  8. Spacing plants:
  • 2 to 3 inches apart: garlic, spinach
  • 4 inches apart: beets, leeks, onions and turnips
  • 6 to 8 inches apart celery, leaf lettuce and Swiss chard
  • 10 to 12 inches head lettuces, peppers
  • 18 to 24 inches tomato, potatoes and cabbages
Climbing Veggies: To learn how to make an inexpensive trellis click here. 
  • For more on vegetable growing click here.
how to make an easy and inexpensive trellis for vegetables
It just took a few items from the dollar store to make this reusable and quickie trellis. Click on the pic for details.

Un-potting Plants

    planting vegetables,vegetable gardening,May garden chores,how to un-pot plants
    Gently remove plants from their containers by tipping them upside down.
    planting vegetables,vegetable gardening,May garden chores,how to un-pot plants
    Gently loosen the roots, but don't destroy the rootball.
    • Be careful when removing plants from their pots. I've managed to accidentally destroy rootballs and decapitate roots from their stems so I know of what I speak. Those rootballs must stay intact, however they can't be so tightly bound that they have difficulty penetrating into the surrounding soil so loosening them is a necessity
    • Root hairs are very delicate and they cannot be exposed to the air or they will dry out immediately and dry.
    • To remove plants from their pots, turn the pots upside down while straddling the plant between your fingers so it doesn’t fall to the ground. If it doesn’t budge, roll the pot along the ground, squishing it lightly, then turn the pot upside down and try again.
    • Gently loosen the roots with your hand, especially if they are tightly bound. If that doesn’t work, use a knife to make slits down the length of the rootball and the bottom of the rootball.
    • Firmly place the plant in the hole so the crown of the plant, where the stem and roots meet, are level with the surface of the soil.
    • Firm soil around the roots and hand water gently but thoroughly. Ensure that all the soil is moist, even between the plants. Any patches of dry soil will suck the moisture away from the roots.
    • Pay attention. Check on the plants daily to ensure they are receiving adequate moisture and are adapting to their new home. It is usually not necessary to water every day, usually every other day is adequate.
    • Be patient. It takes a couple of days for plants to adjust to the new surroundings. It will take a few weeks for growth the start in earnest. Click here for more Planting Know How.
    plants that wilt after planting,garden chores for May,how to plant
    Newly planted plants often wilt in the heat of the day. Protect them from the sun with a shade cloth like this burlap attached to a folding tomato cage.

    Companion Planting

    vegetable gardening,companion planting,growing food organically
    A mixture of crops utilizes every inch of space.
    Companion planting is a great way to utilize as much garden space as possible while encouraging healthy growth, deterring insects and improving soil. Beans, peas and other legumes provide nitrogen to nearby crops as they capture nitrogen from the air and store it in their roots. Legumes help feed neighbouring crops such as lettuce, corn and tomatoes.
     
    Root crops partner well with leafy crops (lettuce and onions) and above ground fruiting crops such as peppers. They also mix well with carrots or another root crop. Add a row of bush beans between any of the crops to provide nitrogen. I love the look and the efficiency of combining lettuce, broccoli and kale together.
     
    Once a short term crop has been harvested such as radish, lettuce and spinach, plant another crop in the same spot. Broccoli, cabbage, kale, bush beans and bush cucumbers will quickly fill in the space and don’t forget edible flowers such as nasturtiums, calendula. To repel insects consider a band of marigolds. For more on companion planting, crop rotation and succession planting click here. 
    vegetable gardening,companion planting,growing food organically
    Marigolds not only add vibrant colour, they ward off insects, except bees and other pollinators.

    Using Bedding Plants/annuals 

    love-in-a-mist,Nigella damescena,planting annuals,designing annual beds
    Love-in-a-mist, Nigella damascena, packs a pretty punch when planted en masse.
    What are they?
    • Impatiens, petunias, coleus and begonias are a few of common annuals, which are also called bedding plants. Because they are frost tender, they have to grow from seed, produce leaves, stems, flowers and seeds all in one growing season. Due to their short life span, they grow quickly and flower profusely as they only have one shot at living. Bees and other pollinating insects love them for their varied flower shapes, colours and types.  
    Extend their life:
    • Since annuals die once they have produced seeds, remove their spent flowers as soon as possible. This also keeps plant compact and bushy.  
    Save your money:
    • Since you need more than a few bedding plants for a good display, purchase them in cell packs, not individual pots. You can buy 6 in a cell pack for less than one in a 4 inch pot; such a bargain!
    Read their labels:
    • Check out plant labels for a plants name, height, width and what conditions it likes: sun, shade, partial shade etc. If there are no labels, ask the nursery staff for information or do your homework beforehand.
    Select the right ones for the conditions:
    • Wherever you plan of planting annuals, assess the conditions before purchasing. For areas where it will receive morning sun only, select plants for partial shade. Gardens that receive sun a few hours in the afternoon qualify for partial shade. Areas that receive 6 hours of direct sun any time of day are full sun gardens. Where there is dappled light under trees, select plants for partial shade. 
    alyssum,lobularia,annuals,bedding plants
    Sweet alyssum, like other annuals, are loaded with flowers. These smell good too and will reflower if they are deadheaded promptly.

    Don't Waste Your Money

    bedding plants,annuals,buying bedding plants
    A six cell pack of impatiens at $3.99. That's only 66 cents a plant.
    Select annuals that are just coming into bud and avoid ones that are in full flower or have finished flowering. You want them to be in their prime in your garden not on the store shelf.  
    bedding plants,annuals
    Just one 4-inch petunia costs $2.99.

    Bedding Plant Designs

    bedding plants,annuals,designing with annuals
    A simple but elegant planting of geraniums and dusty millers are massed in geometric beds at Kew Gardens in London.
    Designing with colour:
    • Simple designs and colour palette are the most elegant. Avoid mixing many different types of annuals and colours together.
    • Complementary Colours : Use only two or three colours ex: red & yellow, blue & orange, red & green.
    • Monochromatic Colours: Use different shades of the same colour ex: violet, mauve, deep blue, navy blue
    • Whites: Add white, silver or grey for highlights and to separate colours that don't go together like orange and pink (in my opinion). 
    ​Good displays:
    • Don't be stingy when planting annuals. The more the better. A swath of colour is better than just a few plants in a single line or a plant here and there. 
    • Ex: for a band of colour place three rows of marigolds spaced 4 inches apart. 
    • Ex: for a grouping plant an odd number of marigolds in a group of 3, 5 or 9.
    Spacing: 
    • Small annuals - 4 to 6 inches apart: ageratum, pansies, petite marigolds, alyssum, lobelia, sweet peas, snapdragons
    • Medium annuals – 6 to 8 inches apart: wax (fibrous) begonia, petunias, annual salvia (S. splendens), dusty miller, celosia, large marigolds, celosia, zinnias, million bells (Calibrachoa)
    • Large annuals – 8 to 10 inches apart:  impatiens, large sunflowers, geraniums, lavatera, coleus
    planting flowers,bedding plants,planting annuals
    Lay out the garden beds by placing plants on top of the soil while they are still in their pots.

    Just a Bit Off the top 

    Autumn Joy sedum,pruning perennials
    This Autumn Joy sedum has not been 'pinched back' so stems are long and flopping over.
    Autumn joy sedum,pruning perennials
    After being pinched back in May, this sedum has more compact stems and smaller but profuse flowers.
    To make perennials more compact so they don’t flop over, pinch the tips off the top of each stem.  Pinch or cut just above a leaf and soon it will sprout more branches at its tip and along its length.  This means more blossoms and a more compact plant. Use this technique for garden phlox, chrysanthemums, asters, veronicas, autumn joy sedums, campanulas and other leggy stemmed perennials. 
    pruning phlox,pruning perennials
    Cutting back the tip of the stems will promote branching and a stockier plant with more but smaller flowers.

    Lawn Care for May

    spring lawn care,lawn care for May
    For a healthy lawn and to prevent grubs, set the mower at 2.5 to 3 inches, no lower.
    This is the last good month to work on the lawn before it gets too hot and it enters into summer dormancy. As soon as temperatures goes above 24°C (75°F) lawn grass growth declines throughout Canada and the upper top third of the United States. Our grasses are cool season grasses and grow best in spring and fall.  So if you still haven’t filled in the patchy spots in your lawn or if you want to replace the entire lawn, do it right away or even better, wait until autumn. For more info on renovating your lawn, click here.
    1. Lawns: In late May, fertilize with a high nitrogen organic or slow release fertilizer. Avoid excessively high nitrogen lawn food, especially quick release ones. The grass will green up quickly and grow right in front of your eyes, however, it will become susceptible to Brown Patch and their roots will be diminished. Excessive nitrogen results in leaf burn and plant death so don’t over apply and use organic or slow release types only.
    2. Mow High: One of the biggest mistakes in lawn care is cutting it too short. Set the mower so it is 2.5 to 3.0 inches tall. The longer grass prevent the adults of lawn grubs, such as chafer and leatherjackets, from depositing their eggs.
    3. Mow: The less you cut off when you mow, the better. Try to remove only 1/3 off at a time and you won’t have to bag them, just leave them on the lawn. As the clippings decompose the provide nitrogen, which reduces the need to fertilize.  
    4. Bad Lawns: If your lawn is causing you more trouble than its worth, consider alternatives. Convert it into a garden without ripping up the lawn with the plant groundcovers instead. For more click on Lawn Alternatives. 
    5. For more on lawn maintenance click here.  

    lawn care,spring lawn care,lawn renovations,fertilizing lawns,turfgrass,May garden chores
    Mow lawns frequently so you don't have to bag the clippings. You'll save on fertilizer too.

    Container Time

    growing in containers,growing in planters
    Red tuberous begonias, geraniums and impatiens are accented by the chartreuse sweet potato vine that surrounds a papyrus.
    • Use planters that have drainage holes and don’t cover them with rocks, crockery or anything else. It has been proven that this outdated practice actually impedes drainage. If you are afraid the soil will leak out of the holes, it really doesn’t unless it is mostly sand. Consider this, plant nurseries and commercial growers never cover the drainage holes with anything.
    • Add drainage trays under plant pots to act as reservoir and to protect decks and patios. 
    • Use a good quality potting soil, not garden soil. 
    • Group plants that like the same conditions together: sun, shade, moist soil, dry soil etc.
    • Mix different types of plants together for variety and interest. Combine shrubs, perennials, annuals, fruit and veggies together. Strawberries look adorable when dangling from the edge of a planter with a tall ornamental grass in the centre. Experiment and have fun with different plant combos.
    • For an effective design use the 'thriller, filler and spiller' method. Plant a tall plant, 'the thriller', in the middle or the back. Around the thriller use plants to fill-in around the taller plant. For a 'filler' select bushy medium sized plants. Around the rim of the container, place a 'spiller' - plants that will spill over the edge.
    • After planting up containers and hanging baskets.  keep them in a shady protected location for a few days for them to recover, then place them in their permanent location. 
    • Containers with existing plants: Remove an inch or two of soil from the top of the pot and replace with some compost or SeaSoil. Repot ones that are potbound into a larger planter. Add petunias and other annuals to add some flowers and colour. 
    • For more on containers click here. 
    growing in containers,growing plants in planters,May garden chores
    An addition of blue and white lobelia fancies up a planter with yellow miniature rose.

    May Garden Chores

    Please note that coloured text are linked to another page on this website or another website. Most of the pictures are also linked and will redirect you if you click on them. 
    growing habanero peppers,planting peppers,planting May long weekend,warm season crops
    It's safe to plant frost tender plants, such as these 'Habanero Orange' chili peppers, during the May long weekend.
    1. Plant:  In Canada, the Victoria Day Weekend (mid-May) it’s safe to plant all plants including tomatoes and other frost tender plants. To learn how to plant click on Planting Know-How.
    2. Don’t Delay Planting: Get trees, shrubs, vines, perennials veggies, herbs and bedding plants in the ground as soon as possible before summer.
    3. Prepare Plants for the Outdoors: Before planting anything that has been growing inside including seedlings, transplants, tropicals and houseplants, prepare them for the outdoors first. Gradually acclimatize them (harden-off), by taking them outside for an hour at a time, increasing the duration and exposure to the elements. 
    hardening off plants,preparing plants to plant outside,gardening in May,May garden chores
    Preparing seedlings grown inside plus, geraniums and houseplants get their first taste of the outdoors - for just one hour in the shade, then back inside they go.
    • Potatoes: Plant seed potatoes in trenches and as they grow, bury the stems. This increases yields and prevents green spuds. For more about growing spuds click here. 
    • Rhubarb: Pull off rhubarb stems as they develop, don’t cut them off. Feed with a generous layer of compost mixed in to the soil.
    how to grow strawberries,May garden chores
    Strawberries: Remove flowers on ones that are newly planted, otherwise remove runners so plants will dedicate their energy to produce strawberries. Once fruits form, allow the runners to make new plants.
    • Fertilize Plants & Build Soil: Mix in compost, composted manure, SeaSoil into the soil around plants, on garden beds, veggie beds and around roses, shrubs and trees. For more on soil building click here. To learn more about feeding plants click here.
    • Weeds: Pull weeds out by their roots; don’t let them go to seed - or at least remove their flowers so they don't set seed.
    • Why Mulch? To prevent weeds, reduce watering and improve soil fertility, lay down a 3 inch layer of an organic mulch on top of soil but between plants. Click here for more on how to apply mulch, its benefits and the different kinds.
    • Greenhouses: Keep them ventilated during the day and close up by night if temps are chilly. Check on plants daily as the sun heats things up quickly. Stagnant air encourages diseases so use fan to circulate the air and to cool things off.Water thirsty crops and provide shading (netting, cloth etc.) on the south or west side if it gets too hot and sunny. 
    May garden chores
    A leisurely daily garden inspection is just what the doctor ordered.
    • Inspect: Daily walks in the garden are not just good for the soul they make you aware of any problems that crop up. Feel free to pull up a few weeds, do some deadheading and take some pictures.
    • Stake & Cage: Place cages, stakes and string, bamboo, trellises and other supports on plants before they need it. Before you know it, it will be too late to help capsized plants such as delphiniums, phlox, cone flowers, Michaelmas daisies, peonies. A more gentle, but effective method, is to situate tall and leggy plants amid bushy plants to help keep them upright. 
    • Eye Protection: Bamboo poles and other stakes can be quite painful if you’re not careful. To prevent injuries, especially to the eyes, place tennis balls on the tips of all potential impalation devices. 
    growing vines,clematis,May garden chores
    Vines: Tie new shoots of clematis, wisteria, honeysuckle, climbing roses and other vines as they grow so they don’t ensnare neighbouring plants.
    • Dead head: Plants look so much better when their dead flowers have been removed. It also prevents seed production, which eliminates unwanted volunteers. Some plants, especially perennials may re-flower. Deadheading annuals will also prolong their flowering season.   Many shrubs also benefit from having their spent flowers removed such lilacs and rhododendrons. Not only do they look tidier, they seem to produce more flowers the following year. That may seem like a daunting task when you have many dead flowers to remove, but do what you can.
    • Groundcovers:  Deadhead groundcovers once they have finished flowering to tidy up the plants and to promote more flowering (aubretia, yellow alyssum (Alyssum saxatile) perennial candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) etc. Instead of de-flowering each stem one-by-one, just grab the plant by the ends where the dead flowers are, and give them a snip. Click on Groundcovers for more.
    deadheading plants
    Deadheading a snow-in-summer, Cerastium tomentosum, stops the spread of seeds and tidies up the plant.
    Compost: Activate your compost if you haven’t already done so. First turn existing compost, add water if dry, add a green layer (veggie scraps etc.) then a brown layer (torn newspapers or dry leaves), then add more water unless the pile is already soggy. Not composting yet? Compost issues? Learn how here.
    pruning topiaries,pruning hedges,when to prune,spring pruning
    Hedges & Topiaries: It is tempting to prune all the new growth on plants grown as topiaries, but it is best to wait until June when the foliage is not so tender. This 'bear' resides at Bear Creek Park, Surrey, BC.

    Sow Some Seeds & Take Cuttings

    growing plants from seed,direct sowing,grow nasturtiums from seed
    Nasturtiums grow easily and quickly from seeds.
    • Sow seeds directly in the ground: peas, sunflowers, California poppies, beans, nasturtiums, carrots, lettuce and other annuals and veggies. The soil must be kept moist for germination to occur. Read the back of seed packets for when to sow, how deep and suitable conditions. 
    • Take softwood cuttings from forsythia, Mexican orange (Choisya ternata), beautybush (Kolkwitzia sp), lavender, hydrangea, mock orange (Philadelphus sp.), spireas, rosemary and thyme. Softwood cuttings are made from the new growth at the end of the stem.​ To learn more click here. 

    Bugs

    beneficial insects,organic pest control,aphids
    When you see aphids, ladybugs are not too far behind.
    1. Pesticides: Avoid using pesticides, including soap and water unless you really have to. Before treating any plant, check for lady bugs and other beneficial insects. If you see them, don’t spray as you will kill them too. Allow nature to do its thing.
    2. Bug Barriers: Place a floating row cover over broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and leafy crops immediately after planting to protect them from cabbage butterfly, leaf miner, carrot rust fly and other insect pests.
    3. Nocturnal Bugs: If you don't know what's eating your plants, go out at night with a flashlight as many are nocturnal. Handpick caterpillars and slugs if you're not squeamish, and place them in a cup of salty water. 
    4. Bug Traps: Place pheromone traps in apple trees to decrease codling moth populations.
    5. Slugs & Snails: There's many ways to control these ravenous mollusks. To learn how click here. 
    6. Caterpillar infestation? Control with an organic option Bacillus thuringiensis. It only kills caterpillars, so avoid spraying near butterfly gardens.
    cloches,insect barriers,spunbonded polyester,reemay,insect control,organic pest control,May garden chores,spring gardening
    A floating row cover protects veggie plants from insects.

    Spring Bulb Care

    dead head tulips,dead head spring bulbs,May garden chores,spring gardening
    Remove spent flowers from tulips and daffodils so they don't go to seed.
    1. Deadhead: Remove spent flowers from tulips and other spring flowering bulbs to prevent seed production and to encourage larger blooms next spring.
    2. Fertilize: Feed the bulbs with a high nitrogen fertilizer (first number highest) after they have finished flowering. This provides food to encourage next year's blossoms. Keep green leaves on until they turn yellow, then cut them back. Don't remove the leaves when they are green as they provide the bulb with food for next year.
    3. Can't Wait? If you need the space taken up by springs bulbs and can't wait for them to yellow, dig them up with a shovel. Do this very carefully so the stems don't break from the bulbs. It's tricky, but it can be done. Once the bulbs are dug up with their stems intact, plant them in a plant pot, firming soil around them, water and place in a protected and bright location away from full sun. 
    spring bulbs care after flowering,May garden chores,spring gardening
    Planting bulbs in bulb trays in the fall makes it easier to remove them in spring once their leaves turn yellow.

    Pruning

    Exochorda 'Niagra' snow day surprise pearl bush,pruning spring flowering shrubs
    A little light pruning on this 'Snow Day Suprise' pearl bush (Exochorda 'Niagra'), should be done at petal fall.
    Best time to Prune
    • Prune plants immediately after flowering to ensure you cut off next years blossoms.
    • Wait to prune summer flowering plants until after they finish blossoming. If you cut them back now you will be removing their flowers. 
    • Birds are busy nesting and raising their young this month. Before pruning shrubs and trees, have a good look around for their nests. Hummingbirds generally live nearby to any feeders so keep your eye out for their wee, and I mean ‘wee’ nests. They are difficult to spot so be mindful when you are pruning.
    Establish your objectives before pruning. 
    • Make spindly plants more compact.
    • Increase the amount of stems therefore flowers.
    • Improve health by removing dead, diseased, crossing, broken branches that grow towards the centre of the plant.
    • Cut off or cut back overly long limbs and ones that get in the way of people walking by.
    • Only remove one-third of overall growth, no more
    Avoid 
    • Pruning just before plants flower as you will be removing the blossoms.
    • Pruning after they sprout new foliage as they will have to produce more which saps their resources.
    • Cutting plants back if it isn't necessary. If they are well-behaved, looking good and flowering, there’s no need perform surgery.
    • Don’t prune plants if they are suffering from lack of water. Thirsty plants can’t rebound if they don’t have the resources to repair themselves.
    Aftercare
    • Once a plant has be cut, it needs to heal its wounds. Give it a drink of water and feed it with a high nitrogen fertilizer such as kelp, fish fertilizer and/or spread compost at the base of the plant.​
    • For more on How to Prune click here. To make pruning easier click on Pruning Tools.
    • If you need help in knowing what to prune in your garden and how to do it, register for an appointment by clicking here. 

    Houseplants & Tropicals

    spring houseplant care,re-potting houseplants,preparing houseplants for outside
    Bromeliads and other tropical plants look forward to vacationing outside for the summer, but do prepare them first.
    • Check your houseplants to see if they are potbound. Symptoms of cramped roots are wilting from lack of water despite daily watering, top heavy plant that keeps on falling down, yellow foliage, weak growth and lack of vigor.
    • If some of your houseplants are content, just mix in some compost or slow release fertilizer on top of the soil. A fork is just the right size to scratch it in, even with the smallest pots.
    To repot houseplants:
    • Use potting soil, not garden soil.
    • Add a slow release fertilizer or purchase soil with it already included.
    • Select a pot one or two inches larger as overpotting promotes rotting.
    • Gently loosen roots before planting, then firm soil around roots and water gently. Place in a bright location out of direct sunlight until it revives.
    • Once plants have recovered, consider giving them a vacation outside (except for African violets and other hairy leaved plants). 
    Summer Vacation Outside – Hardening Off:
    • To prepare houseplants, bougainvillea, coleus, geraniums and other tropical plants for the outdoors move them outside for an hour in a shaded, protected location. Prolong the time and expose them to more weather each day until they can stay out all day and night. For more on hardening off click here​
    how to plant,planting know-how,loosen roots before planting
    Loosen potbound roots with your hand or use a knife to cleanly slice the roots.

    Prepare beds for planting 

    garden bed preparation,soil improvement,May garden chores,spring gardening
    Preparing garden beds doesn't need special equipment, but a rake sure comes in handy.
    • Start off by removing all the weeds, roots and all.
    • Mix in at least a couple of inches of ​compost, SeaSoil, triple mix, and/or well-rotted, aged or composted manure.
    • Don't use anything that is smelly or is steaming hot as that means it is fully decomposed such as fresh manure or un-composted compost.
    • Level with a rake and follow up by watering thoroughly.
    • Either add 3 inches of an organic mulch on top of the soil.
    • Or Wait a week then plant, then add the mulch.
    mulching garden beds,planting with mulch,preparing beds for planting
    Adding mulch to garden beds provides a wealth of benefits for the plants, the soil and the gardener.
    Improving and Planting in Existing Mulched Garden Beds
    To add compost etc., to a bed that is already mulched, remove the existing mulch and place on a tarp or wheelbarrow. It’s not necessary to remove it all, just around the existing plants that you want to treat to some compost. It’s not necessary to mix it in but it does improve the soil faster. Replace the mulch, but you might have to add more so it is 3 inches deep. For more about mulch click here. To prevent plants’ from rotting, keep the mulch a few inches from tree trunks and avoid covering plants. For more on improving soil click here. ​

    Our Feathered Friends

    birds in the garden,hummingbirds in spring,gardening for the birds
    Birdies are busy raising their young so providing them with food and water is a good thing.
    It's a critical time of year for all birds, including hummingbirds. Keep all feeders clean and supplied with seed and nectar. Wash hummingbird feeders before refilling to prevent diseases and don’t forget to align the nectar ports with the perches. Check on them daily as dry feeders make for sad birdies. 

    Help Pollinators

    pollinators,encouraging pollinators,carrot flowers,pollinator-friendly gardens
    Carrots, when left in the ground, produce these beautiful flowers that pollinating insects covet.
    It's common knowledge that bees and other pollinating insect populations are declining. The reasons are many, including the use of pesticides, herbicides and the reduction of meadows and other wild spaces.
    To learn more about growing a pollinator-friendly garden click here. 
    bees,pollinating insects,pollinator-friendly gardening
    A shallow water dish helps bees during summer's heat and drought.

    Easy Care Roses Do Exist

    easy care roses,low maintenance roses,'Easy Does It' floribunda roses
    'Easy Does It' is a well-named floribunda rose.
    Easy Roses: Times have changed when it comes to growing roses. It is a popular belief that  roses need a diligent spray program so they don't get black spot, aphids and other ailments, but let me introduce to the many roses that don't need any spraying at all, or pruning. As long as you have 6 hours of sun a day, you can grow roses. Click on Easy Roses for more. 
    Types of Roses: There are so many different types of roses from Old Garden roses to the new kids on the block. Discover their differences, their assets and their weaknesses by clicking on Rose Types.
    Climbing Roses: There's a difference between climbers and ramblers. To learn about the many kinds and how to grow them click on Climbing Roses. 
    Grow Roses Successfully: No matter what kind of rose you grow, there is certain information you should know to ensure their happiness, and yours. Click on Growing Roses Successfully for more.
    Pruning Roses: Learn where to cut and how to ensure more flowers and a healthy plants. Click on Rose Pruning. 
    Portland's International Rose Test Garden: Oodles of pretty pictures of the vast array of roses in this botanical garden are featured. Click here for more. 
    Insects & Diseases: Find out how to keep roses happy and what to do about it when they are not. Click on Common Rose Insects and Diseases for more. Also check out Rose Sawfly and Rose Bloom Balling. 
    Meidiland roses,easy care roses,how to grow roses
    Meidiland roses are carefree with colours in pink, yellow, white and red.

    May Arrangement

    may flower arrangement,May flowering plants
    May's garden arrangement consists of lilacs and rhododendrons.
    For details on the flowers and for more arrangements click here.

    Plant of the month
    Handkerchief or Dove Tree
    Davidia involucrata


    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree
    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree
    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree
    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree
    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree
    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree
    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree
    Picture
    ​Common Name:  Handkerchief Tree or Dove Tree
    Botanical Name:  Davidia involucrata
    Form:    upright flowering tree with a broad, pyramidal spreading canopy
    Family:  Nyssaceae
    Genus:  Davidia
    Species:  involucrata
    Plant Type: deciduous tree
    Mature Size:  20 to 40 feet height and spread
    Origin:  Southwest China
    Hardiness Zone: 6 to 8
    Foliage:  bright green 3-6 inch broadly oval, serrated margins with a heart-shaped base, good orange and red fall colour
    Flowers: red anthers are surrounded with large, showy floppy white bracts up to 7 inches long
    Fruit: greenish-brown and round the size of golf balls
    Exposure:  full sun to part shade
    Soil:  organically rich, moist but well-drained, does not like drought
    Uses:  shade tree, specimen,
    Propagation:   seed, hardwood cuttings
    Pruning:  late summer to early autumn
    ​Problems:  no serious problems

    Comments: 
     
    The handkerchief tree is aptly named due to its large white bracted flowers resemble hankies or Kleenex swaying in the breeze. Its other name is Dove Tree, which is a much nicer name. It makes sense as as they do resemble white doves resting on its limbs – when the breeze fails to blow.
     
    Despite their flagrantly unusual flowers, they are not a common tree, but when you do see one in flower, it makes a huge impression. The first one I saw was in full blooming mode was VanDusen Botanical Gardens. The white dangling blossoms hung off the branches as though someone had placed them on, one by one. The next time I saw one was at Bear Creek Park in Surrey. It was fortuitous, as I was conducting a plant ID class at the time. The students hadn’t seen anything like it and they were very impressed with such an unusual specimen.
     
    This is an easy tree to grow. It has good bones and it makes a good shade tree with its spreading canopy. It rarely needs pruning and isn’t prone to insects and diseases, however it doesn’t like really hot sunny locations nor soil that is too dry.
     
    Just one last note. If you decide this tree is for you, just remember when it drops it’s white bracts, that they are indeed flowers on the ground and not hankies! 
    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree
    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree
    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree
    Handkerchief tree,dove tree,Davidia involucrata,trees with white flowers,white bracts,flowering tree,May flowering tree

    THE GARDEN WEBSITE INDEX


    ​About, Services & Contact ​                        ​                                    Ask Amanda                     

    Learn How to Garden Introduction 
    • Planting Know How
    • Soil Building
    • Cover Crops
    • Composting
    • Compost Tea
    • Drought Gardening
    • Sheet Mulching/Lasagna Gardening
    • Planting Spring Flowering Bulbs
    • Houseplant Winter Care
     ​ 
    ​Growing Food 
    • Crop Succession, Crop Rotation, Companion Planting
    • ​Taming Tomatoes
    • Speeding up Tomato Harvests
    • Tomato Tips
    • Tomato Troubles
    • Growing Potatoes
    • Harvesting
    • Winter Veggie Gardening
    Pruning Basics
    • Pruning Tools
    • Winter Pruning
    • Pruning Grapes
    • Pruning Clematis 
    • Prune Your Own Garden ​

    ​Growing Roses Introduction 
    • Types of Roses
    • Climbing Roses
    • Rose Insects & Diseases
    • Pruning Roses
    • Portland Rose Test Garden
    • Rose Bloom Balling
    • Rose Sawfly
    • Easy Roses

    Plant Pest 1
    • Plant Pests 2
    • Dormant Oil/Lime sulfur
    • Japanese Beetles
    • Peony Blotch/Measles
    • Slugs & Snails
    • Horsetail, the weed
    • June Beetles
    • Powdery Mildew
    • Soil Solarization
    • Rhododendron Leaf Spot
    • Plant Rusts

    Container Growing 101
    • Choosing a Container
    ​
    Monthly Flower Arrangements

    ​Mulching & Types Introduction
    • Living Mulches – Groundcovers​

    Fertilizing & Feeding Introduction
    • Fertilizers & Ratios
    • Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities
    • Organic Plant Food

    Propagation Introduction
    • Growing Seed Outdoors
    • Growing Seed Indoors
    • Taking Cuttings​
    • Saving Tomato Seeds
    • Seeds & Plant Catalogues

    ​Lawn Basics
    • Seeding & Sodding
    • Lawn Maintenance Schedule
    • Spring Lawn Care
    • Moss in Lawns
    • ​Lawn Grub Control
     ​
    ​Plants of the Month
    ​
    ​

    for the tropical Gardener

    Ornamental Tropical Shrubs,Pineapple Press,Amanda Jarrett,thegardenwebsite.com
    While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here. 


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    • Home
    • About, Services, Contact
    • Ask Amanda
    • Roses
      • Types of Roses
      • Easy Roses
      • Climbing Roses
      • Portland's Rose Test Garden
      • Rose Insects & Diseases
      • Pruning Roses
      • Rose Sawfly
      • Rose Bloom Balling
    • Pruning Basics 101
      • Pruning Tools
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