May Gardening To-Dos

Visit public gardens such as the Bellevue Botanical Garden for fresh ideas.
Plant dahlias, gladiolus, calla lilies, rhododendrons, azaleas and hanging baskets of geraniums and fuchsias.
Plant annuals in beds and containers for summer color. Mix in herbs for fun.
Spruce-up your containers and add organic fertilizer. Remove spent bulb seed pods, allowing bulb foliage to mature.
Trim spring-blooming shrubs after they bloom.
Add aquatic plants to your water garden.

Transplant starts of heat-lovers such as tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers.
Harden tender transplants by putting them out in a sheltered location and bringing them in at night until the chance of nighttime frost is past.
When soil warms, plant corn and beans.

Check all irrigation systems for leaks and assess sprayhead direction.
Set up a simple rain gauge – an empty container placed on the lawn will track of how much water the lawn has received. Lawns optimally require an inch of water weekly from rain, irrigation or a combination of the two.
Mow lawn every five to seven days.
Dig out dandelions and roots to prevent re-seeding.

Happy Mother’s Day! Celebrate Mom with colorful plants and container gardens.
When evening lows stay above 50°F/10°C, move indoor plants, such as bougainvilleas, palms, citrus, ficus or ferns to a bright outdoor location. They’ll thrive there.
Give flowering houseplants boost by switching to organic bloom fertilizer.
Clean up fountains and birdbaths.