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MAY CHECK LIST:
CONTROL PLANT DAMAGERS:
Check plants for evidence of plant nibblers, handpick slugs
or snails, or spread bait. Spray cabbage, worms, cabbage loopers,
corn earworms, and geranium budworms (they also love petunia
buds) with a product containing the biological control Bacullus
Thuringiensis.
FEED AND MOW LAWNS:
Fertilize warm-season grasses. (Bermuda, St. Augustine, and
Zoysia) and Dichondra lawns with a food high in nitrogen, Mow
Bermuda grass lawns: begin by setting the mower about ¾ inch his
month; set it progressively higher as summer proceeds so you cut
only leaf blades, not stems.
FEED FLOWERS, VEGETABLES:
Use a low-nitrogen plant food formulated to promote flowers or
fruit. Fertilize lettuce and other leafy crops with
high-nitrogen food to encourage vegetative growth.
FEED SUBTROPICALS:
New growth on plants such as banana, bougainvillea, citrus,
gardenia, hibiscus, lantana, Natal plum indicates the time is
right to give them a shot of complete fertilizer.
PLANT SUBTROPICALS:
Heat-loving plants such as avocado, banana, bougainvillea,
citrus, hibiscus, macadamia, and palms can go into the ground
this month. To prevent sunburn on thin-barked avocado and
citrus, protect exposed trunks with whitewash, white latex
paint, or tree wrap.
PLANT SUMMER FLOWERS:
Set out nursery-started seeding of ageratum, asters, carnation,
celosia, cleome, chrysanthemums, coleus, dwarf dahlias,
dianthus, dusty miller, fibrous begonias, gloriosa daisy,
impatiens, lobelia, marigolds, petunia, portulaca, salvia,
Shasta daisy, sweet alyssum, verbena, Vinca rosea, and zinnias.
Sow seeds of centaurea, coreopsis, cosmos, gaillardia,
nasturtium, nicotiana, nierembergia, and sunflowers in the
ground; or start them in containers for later transplanting.
PLANT VEGETABLES:
Set out seedlings or start seeds of these summer vegetables;
beans, carrots, corn, cucumber, eggplant, melons, peppers,
pumpkins, radishes, squash and tomatoes. Root and vine crops
produce best when sown directly in garden soil.
PLANT WARM-SEASON GRASSES:
Plant heat-loving Bermuda, Dichondra, St. Augustine, and Zoysia.
If you’re planting Zoysia, see the item above for how to get it
established the quickest. Water as often as necessary to prevent
tender sprouts from burning.
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