May is still a good month to get a lawn started, but the earlier the better. As the days grow longer and warmer, seed germination and seedling growth is not so good as when milder weather prevails. It is desirable to get a good stand of new grass well established before the hot, dry days of mid-summer arrive and weed competition becomes greatest.
Plant dahlia roots about a week before danger of late frosts is past. Make sure the tubers contain eyes or buds at the top of each division. Plant roots horizontally about six inches deep. If plants are used started from cuttings they should not be set out until all danger of late frosts is past. Set potted green plants about three inches deep, removing lower leaves if necessary.
Our state fertilizer laws protect us so that by reading the label we can tell the exact percentage of the three major elements that are in the bag. It really doesn’t make too much difference which one you get as long as it has from four to six per cent nitrogen, from eight to twelve per cent phosphorus, and four to eight or ten per cent potash.
May is the month when garden pests in the east start to raise their ugly heads. A lot of them are easily seen but the two that do the most damage around my place unless I constantly combat them are slugs (these are snails without shells and sowbugs. or pill bugs as some people call them.
When we desire to improve our lawns we frequently study the methods followed by the greenskeeper whose most important job is to grow grass.
Many northern lawns suffered a setback over the past year. Excessive heat and drought were followed by torrential rains that tore at the slim grass covering and washed out valuable soil. Heavy weed crops following the rains complicated the problem. Delayed fall seedlings were only partly successful and many lawns went into the winter in poor shape.
Sure, it may still be cold and rainy outside, but spring is officially here and it’s never too early to start thinking about summer home improvement projects. By starting early you can actually take advantage of some early sales, get a better idea of what you want to do and even finish your projects early enough to enjoy the summer months!
By this time of the year when the cold weather starts to peep in, I seem to be a little slower and lazier than normal. I would rather just curl up inside the house and wait for spring to come. I constantly comfort myself of the fact that soon enough, the snow and ice will leave us again and before we even know it, it’s time to get outside and work on the lawn and landscape! With that in mind, why don’t we make a plan?