MAY May is my most favorite gardening month. While the weather is still unpredictable; the warmth of the sun brings new growth in our gardens, giving a real sense that Summer is at our garden gates. In Spring; as always, the weather still guides us as to what we can do in the garden. Gardeners in warm climates have most likely completed Spring tasks, and might already be enjoying the first beautiful blooms of early summer. In cooler climates gardener's are finalizing their plans for summer gardens, while waiting for the risk of frost to past and garden centers to open. For most gardeners, the month of May is filled with plantings of bedding plants, new perennials, transplanting seedlings, and sowing seeds outdoors, with great visions of the summer gardens to be!     ALWAYS let the weather be your guide, and use this garden calendar as a simple reminder as to what needs to be done in your garden this month. SOIL - If needed; and haven't already done so, this is a good time to do a Soil Test to find out the soil's pH in your garden beds. Try to test every couple of years to see if there is a change in the soil's pH. Make adjustments necessary to improve the quality of the soil by following the soil test recommendations. - As soon as the soil is workable, loosen soil and weed gardens. Then feed the garden with organic fertilizer such as garden compost (composted humus), and leaf mould, or an artificial fertilizer. Northern zones might not get started till May. - By now gardeners in warmer climates may have already prepared the soil, and are enjoying the start of early summer. ANNUALS / BEDDING PLANTS - Sow seeds of Annuals directly outdoors in desired areas.    - After hardening off seedlings started from seed indoors prepare for transplanting to the outdoors. Transplant when there is no more risk of frost and the evenings are no longer cold, and soil is has warmed. - Finish sowing hardy annuals directly outdoors, if not already done. - Buy a selection of bedding plants when they become available, and plant in gardens when any risk of frost has past. Protect the new plantings and seedlings by covering them up with a sheet or plastic if there is a risk of frost. - Start feeding planting annuals. - If needed, weed and mulch flower beds. PERENNIALS - Sow seeds of Perennials directly outdoors; if haven't already done so.    - After hardening off seedlings started from seed indoors prepare for transplanting to the outdoors. Transplant when there is no more risk of frost and the evenings are no longer cold, and soil is has warmed. - In warmer climates, finish planting bareroot perennials. - In cooler climates, plant bareroot perennials when soil has warmed. - Remove winter mulch that hasn't been removed yet. If still quite cool at night, remove gradually. - As growth starts, feed your perennials with a fertilizer; following instructions provided. - When weather permits, and a chance of frost has past, dig and divide any perennials that are still in need of dividing and transplant. Protect the new plantings and seedlings by covering them up with a sheet or plastic if there is a risk of frost. - Stake perennials that will need it while they are small. - If needed, weed and mulch flower beds. BULBS - Remove any mulch still left on bulb beds. If still cool, remove GRADUALLY. - After spring bulbs have flowered, feed them a bulb fertilizer or bone meal. - Remove faded flowers from spring flowering bulbs. - Plant summer flowering bulbs; if haven't already done so. HERBS - Sow seeds of Herbs directly outdoors in desired areas.    - After hardening off seedlings started from seed indoors prepare for transplanting to the outdoors. Transplant when there is no more risk of frost and the evenings are no longer cold, and soil is has warmed. Protect the new plantings and seedlings by covering them up with a sheet or plastic if there is a risk of frost. CLIMBERS - Prune any damage from perennial vines.    - When risk of frost has past plant annual and perennial vine seeds. - Plant climbers directly outdoors after risk of frost has past. Protect the new plantings and seedlings by covering them up with a sheet or plastic if there is a risk of frost. - In warmer climates start to train climbers by tying now. TREES / SHRUBS - If you haven't already done so prune diseased branches of trees and shrubs. Do pruning on a warmer day.       - After spring flowering shrubs bloom and flowers have died off, and thin branches out if needed. - Take cuttings from shrubs if wanting to grow more in different locations.   - If weather permits, plant new trees and shrubs. Plant bareroot trees or shrubs. - Weather permitting transplant trees and shrubs. - Fertilize new growing shrubs and trees. CONTAINERS - In warmer climates finish filling containers with bedding plants, and other plant selections from annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, and climbers. - In cooler climates, when bedding plants become available plant our containers after the risk of frost has past. Protect the new plantings and seedlings by covering them up with a sheet or plastic if there is a risk of frost. VEGETABLES - If you started seeds of tender vegetable indoors start hardening off to prepare for transplanting to the outdoors. Transplant when there is no more risk of frost and the evenings are no longer cold and the soil is warm. Gardeners in warmer climates may already be done transplanting in the vegetable garden. - Finalize plans for the vegetable gardens. Till up garden soil when workable, adding organic mulch as needed. - Depending on your regions frost dates and weather permitting; finish sowing or planting tender vegetables outdoors if you haven't already done so. Protect new plantings and seedlings with a sheet or plastic if there is a risk of frost. - Plant Asparagus crowns. FRUITS - Select and plant a small fruit tree suitable for your climate. Something small so not to overpower the garden but to add interest and beauty to your gardens. - Prune fruit trees if they haven't leafed out yet. - Prune cherry and plum trees. - Feed trees. LAWNS - Repair any lawn damage. - Feed lawns for healthy growth. - Sow grass seed for new lawns and for needed areas in existing lawns. - Lay sod now for new lawns. - Lawn may be raked, aerated, and mowed. - When lawn starts to grow; adjust the lawn mower to summer cutting level. GARDENING FUN - Enter a contest at Flower Garden News today! Click here for contest details.   - Use these free printable photos for your own personal use. Use in crafts, framed pictures, journaling, decoupage, scrapbooking, and for screen savers or backgrounds for your own computer, and more.   GARDEN JOURNALING - Don't forget to take a before picture of your yard or gardens. Put photos in your garden journal. It is a great way to keep records to see how much your garden has grown and changed. - Keep those seed packets and plant tags in your garden journals for future reference. Great source of plant care information. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS - Have a look around to see what is in need of repair. Check arbors, trellises, fences, stakes, walkways, planters, and anything else you may have in your garden and yards. GARDEN TOOLS - If you haven't already done so, retrieve any tools you have sent out for repairs. Set the lawnmower blade back to summer cutting height.   I hope you have found a reminder that was useful for you and your garden. Happy planting! Click here to go back to the month by month garden calendar.

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