The Almanac<\/p>\n
Average temperature: High 88, Low 66<\/p>\n
Note: Time to prepare for hurricane season, which starts June 1<\/p>\n
Rainfall: 3.74 inches<\/p>\n
1. Moon phases<\/p>\n
Full moon: May 1<\/p>\n
Last quarter: May 9<\/p>\n
New moon: May 16<\/p>\n
First quarter: May 23<\/p>\n
First quarter: May 31<\/p>\n
2. Moon sign planting dates<\/p>\n
Above-ground crops: 1, 2, 19, 20, 23, 24, 28, 29<\/p>\n
Below-ground crops: \u00a06, 7, 11, 12, 15, 16<\/p>\n
Control weeds and pests: \u00a08, 9, 10, 17, 18<\/p>\n
Prune trees and shrubs: 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 21, 22, 30, 31<\/p>\n
Time to plant<\/p>\n
3. Vegetables: Calabaza, chayote, cherry tomato, collards, dasheen, lima bean, snap bean, Malabar spinach, malanga, New Zealand spinach, okra, hot pepper, roselle, Seminole pumpkin, southern pea, sweet potato, tamarillo, yam and yardlong bean<\/p>\n
4. Flowers: Angelonia, balsam, begonias, black-eyed-Susan, blue daze, bromeliads, browallia, bush daisy, butterfly weed, cat\u2019s whiskers, celosia, coleus, coreopsis, crossandra, Dahlberg daisy, gaillardia, gazania, gerbera, goldenrod, gomphrena, impatiens, liatris, marigolds, melampodium, moon vine, nicotiana, nierembergia, pentas, periwinkle, Porter weed, portulaca, purslane, salvia, sunflowers, torenia, verbena and zinnias<\/p>\n
5. Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, cardamom, chives, coriander, dill, lemon balm, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory, sweet marjoram, mint, tarragon and thyme<\/p>\n
6. Bulbs: Achimenes, agapanthus, blood lilies, bulbine, caladiums, calla lilies, cannas, crinums, day lilies, eucharis lily, gladiolus, gloriosa lilies, peacock ginger, society garlic, spider lilies and rain lilies<\/p>\n
Lawn care needed<\/p>\n
7. Due to the February freeze. it has been a tough winter for lawns. but most are recovering.<\/p>\n
8. Some areas of lawns may have died during the winter; add new sod or plugs.<\/p>\n
9. May is a good month to seed bahia lawns.<\/p>\n
10. Avoid mowing with dull blades; sharpen frequently.<\/p>\n
11. Drier weather is here; irrigate lawns when wilting is noticed on permitted days.<\/p>\n
12. Rake out brown leaf blades and dead turf left from winter.<\/p>\n
13. Finish spring feedings with fertilizers that slowly release nutrients to the lawn.<\/p>\n
14. Where permitted, apply an iron only or minor nutrient fertilizer to regreen yellow lawns.<\/p>\n
15. Check for local rules that restrict lawn feedings to certain times of the year.<\/p>\n
16. This month may be the last time to feed your lawn until October.<\/p>\n
17. Unclog sprinkler heads and adjust to ensure proper watering.<\/p>\n
18. May is the last of the better sodding months until fall for shady areas.<\/p>\n
19. Limit lawns to areas needed for recreation and family enjoyment.<\/p>\n
20. Consider a drought-tolerant grass when adding new turf.<\/p>\n
21. Measure leaf blades to make sure the lawn is being cut at the proper height.<\/p>\n
22.\u00a0Dig out or spot kill weeds and replace with plugs of grass or sod.<\/p>\n
23. Chinch bugs are becoming active in St. Augustine lawns; treat as needed.<\/p>\n
24. Aerate compacted and hard-to-wet lawns.<\/p>\n
25. Select shade-tolerant grasses or an ornamental groundcover for difficult shady spots.<\/p>\n
Landscape care<\/p>\n
26. Add holiday Easter lilies and poinsettias to the landscape.<\/p>\n
27. Add tulips, hyacinths and other forced bulbs to the compost pile and keep the containers.<\/p>\n
28. Complete the removal of winter-damaged plant portions.<\/p>\n
29. Reshape plants beginning new growth after winter damage.<\/p>\n
30. Palms may need months to recover; severely-damaged shrubs should begin growth soon.<\/p>\n
31. Have older trees checked prior to hurricane season, which starts June 1.<\/p>\n
32. Look for sap-stained bark, hollow areas and twin trunks as signs of tree problems.<\/p>\n
33. Train young shade trees to have one central leader with evenly spaced branches.<\/p>\n
34. Save water by irrigating trees and shrubs separately from lawns and only when needed.<\/p>\n
35. Capture water from drain spouts to use during the try times.<\/p>\n
36. Create rain gardens to hold and use excess water<\/p>\n
37. Maintain a 1- to 2-inch mulch layer over tree and shrub roots to help conserve moisture.<\/p>\n
38. Install and use microsprinklers to water trees and shrubs.<\/p>\n
39. Save pots, cellpacks and flats from purchases to reuse or take back to nurseries.<\/p>\n
40. Older shade trees seldom need special feedings.<\/p>\n
41. One application of a slow-release fertilizer could feed your plants through summer.<\/p>\n
42. Correct drainage problems before the rainy season arrives.<\/p>\n
43. Make sure new plant selections have adequate room to grow.<\/p>\n
44. Select plants for pool and patio areas that do not drop messy flowers or foliage.<\/p>\n
45. Keep new tree and shrub plantings moist as permitted by water restrictions.<\/p>\n
46. Feed palms with an 8-0-12-4Mg or similar slow release palm fertilizer according to label.<\/p>\n
47. Trim faded flowers from annuals to encourage new blooms.<\/p>\n
48. Remove limbs affecting traffic along walkways.<\/p>\n
49. Create shady gardens with low-light-requiring flowers, shrubs, bulbs and foliage plants.<\/p>\n
50. Cut back perennials finishing their spring bloom.<\/p>\n
51. Fertilize all flowerbeds and shrub plantings as the rainy season returns.<\/p>\n
52. Complete pruning of azaleas and camellias.<\/p>\n
53. Transplant palms when the rainy season returns.<\/p>\n
54. Feed container gardens weekly or use a slow-release fertilizer as labeled.<\/p>\n
55. Control black spot & mites affecting rose plantings.<\/p>\n
56. Turn compost piles every two weeks.<\/p>\n
57. Feed water lilies and lotus monthly.<\/p>\n
58. Begin rooting cuttings of favorite shrubs and perennials.<\/p>\n
59. Collect and sow seeds from your favorite plants or save them until the proper time.<\/p>\n
60. Pull or spot kill weeds among shrubs and flower beds and add a mulch.<\/p>\n
Fruit and vegetable plantings<\/p>\n
61. Decide what tropical fruit trees can recover from the freeze; replant those that have declined.<\/p>\n
62. Groom, fertilize, maintain a moist soil and utilize herbs to keep them growing.<\/p>\n
63. Remove declining cool season crops and replant with warm season vegetables.<\/p>\n
64. It\u2019s too late for most tomatoes, peppers and eggplants; select summer tolerant vegetables.<\/p>\n
65. Maintain a mulch in the garden and use microsprinklers or soaker hoses to conserve water.<\/p>\n
66. Keep bananas and papaya moist and feed monthly to have flowers by late summer.<\/p>\n
67. Give citrus, grapes and other fruits a late-spring feeding.<\/p>\n
68. Prune blackberries and blueberries when fruiting is over.<\/p>\n
69. Harvest maturing crops to keep the plants producing.<\/p>\n
70. Trellis vining crops to save space and prevent diseases.<\/p>\n
71. Feed vegetable plantings monthly.<\/p>\n
72. Control fruit worms and leaf spots on vegetables with natural sprays as needed.<\/p>\n
73. Control aphids feeding in new shoots with an insecticidal soap spray.<\/p>\n
74. Incorporate compost with planting sites to improve sandy soils.<\/p>\n
75. Purchase seeds now for later plantings; seeds are often removed from stores during summer.<\/p>\n
Foliage and houseplant<\/p>\n
76. Groom outdoor foliage plants, removing freeze-damaged portions and repot as needed.<\/p>\n
77. Replace declining plants in the home with new selections.<\/p>\n
78. Give weak and thinning indoor foliage plants a spot outdoors to recover.<\/p>\n
79. Repot plants that have outgrown their containers; divide if needed.<\/p>\n
80. Remove yellow leaves and faded flowers.<\/p>\n
81. Reshape taller tree form foliage plants and remove declining limbs.<\/p>\n
82. Divide African violets, bromeliads and orchids.<\/p>\n
83. Wash pests and dust away with soapy water.<\/p>\n
84. Feed container-grown outdoor foliage plants monthly or use a slow release fertilizer.<\/p>\n
85. Move orchids outdoor for the summer and fertilize with an orchid product as instructed.<\/p>\n