San Diego gardens are busy putting on a great show right now. Here are some ideas on how to keep the bloom going and get your garden ready for warmer temperatures.
Plant Now
May’s weather is still cool enough for planting many perennials while being warm enough to add subtropicals. The following plants will be happy to go into your San Diego garden this month:
- Summer Annuals – See my April 2020 post for some good choices.
- Herbs – Try basil, parsley, chives, oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, dill, cilantro and mint. Mint, though tasty, can be quite invasive. It spreads via underground stems, so it’s best to keep it in a pot off the soil.
- Summer Vegetables – See my July 2022 post for a list of summer vegetables, and take a look at Joyce Gemmell’s Vegetable Planting Guide for more information on warm season vegetables.
- Subtropical and Tropical Plants – Check out my May 2022 post for a list of subtropical and tropical plants, trees and fruit trees for your garden.
Adjust Watering and Add Mulch
As temperatures warm and days get longer, make sure your plants are getting enough water. Check new seedlings and transplants often. They need frequent, shallow watering for the first few weeks while they are establishing roots. Water established plants less often, but more deeply so their roots will grow deeper.
Irrigate mature trees in a circle starting about one-third of the distance between the tree’s trunk and the outer edge of its branches, its drip-line. Water from that point out beyond the drip line by a few feet. It’s best if the water penetrates at least two feet deep into the soil.
If you haven’t mulched recently, this is a good time to do so. The mulch will help keep your plants’ roots cool and hold moisture in the soil. Organic mulch will also add nutrients to your soil as it decomposes. It will take a layer of at least three inches to discourage weeds. Keep the mulch away from the trunks of trees and shrubs. Piling mulch against the trunk can cause rot or other issues.
Mulching has not only cut down on weeds in my yard, it also lowers the amount of water I need for irrigation and has really improved my soil. I wish I’d started mulching years earlier.
Extend the Bloom Season in Your San Diego Garden
If you love the spring bloom your garden provides, you can extend it by adding summer and fall blooming perennials, bulbs and trees. Although fall is the best time to plant many of these, nurseries have the best stock now.
Summer blooming bulbs include gladiolus, crocosmia, lilies, crinums, spider lilies, tuberosa, glory lilies, daylilies and callas. Summer and fall blooming perennials you can add are lion’s tail, penstemon, salvia, yarrow, aster, chrysanthemums, perennial sunflowers, gaillardia, mimulus, hebe, tecoma and verbena. Summer blooming trees include jacaranda, mimosa, coral trees, crape myrtle and chaste tree.
San Diego Gardens Tips Source
A lot of information for San Diego Gardens 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.