May is a great time to plant subtropicals, summer annuals, vegetables, and herbs. It’s also a great time to mulch. A 3- to 6-inch layer of mulch around trees and plants will help keep roots cool and moist. Make sure you leave the area around the base of trunks mulch-free to prevent diseases.
Here are a few May gardening tips to help keep your landscape beautiful and blooming.
FIGHT PESTS
Control aphids with non-chemical methods. You can use strong sprays of water to dislodge them from plants. Along with the aphids, you want to stop the ants that protect them. Ants farm aphids for the honeydew they secrete. Use sticky methods to keep ants out of trees, and try ant traps that allow ants to take the poison home to their nests. For more ant control ideas, see April Gardening Tips.
Our May Gray and June Gloom create perfect conditions for powdery mildew. Roses are susceptible to this fungus along with certain ornamentals and vegetables. Wash off leaves in the morning to dislodge spores and keep them from germinating. Make sure your plants have good air circulation. Spray them using 1 tablespoon of baking soda and summer oil per gallon of water. You can also try Neem oil or non-toxic horticultural oils. Additionally, breeders are introducing new, mildew-resistant plant varieties requiring less maintenance.
PLANT EDIBLES AND PLANT SMART
Try growing flowers that are not only nice to look at, but also edible! Some options are chamomile, borage, nasturtium, pansies, violets and squash blossoms. Sprinkle them on salads or use them to garnish drinks and deserts. Not every flower is edible, so make sure you only stick with those we know are safe to eat. Also start with small quantities if you have allergies or asthma.
Plant low-water plants from climates similar to ours. Southern California’s Mediterranean climate is shared by several other areas of the world including parts of Australia and the southern tip of South Africa. Plants from those areas will fare better in our hot, dry summers and mild winters. Some Australian options are emu bush, flax lily, dampiera, woolly grevillea and feathery senna.
VIEW WILDFLOWERS
Although some of the superblooms are over, there are still wildflowers blooming in California. This year’s show is exceptional thanks to our abundant rain and cool spring. If you want to find out what’s blooming, go to the Theodore Payne Foundation. They offer weekly updates posted on Fridays through the end of May. Their wild flower hotline is 818-768-3533.
A lot of information for May Gardening Tips 2019 comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.