May Gardening Tips

May Garden In Las Cruces

May Gardening Tips.  May gardening in the Southwest can be hot, dry, and/or windy. Take precautions to make sure all watering systems are working at their best. Use Cypress mulch to help keep roots insulated from the HOT sun. This helps keep moisture in the root zone as well as keeping weeds down to a minimum. Lantana, red bird of paradise, Oleander, and other winter-damaged plants may be emerging at this time. Do NOT remove them.

May Gardening In Las Cruces
Dallas Red Lantana will Bloom all late spring, summer, and into fall.

This helps keep moisture in the root zone and keeps weeds down to a minimum. Lantana, red bird of paradise, Oleander, and other winter-damaged plants may be emerging at this time. Do NOT remove them prematurely. These plants will emerge if watered occasionally during winter.

tuscarora-crape-myrtle
A well-maintained Tuscarora Crape Myrtle.

Crape Myrtles will begin to show flower buds at this time and will need regular watering when flowers begin to develop. They like lots of water when first planted.  Once a day if possible during the hot summer seasons.

These plants will emerge if watered occasionally during winter. Crape Myrtle will begin to show flower buds at this time and will need regular watering when flowers begin to develop. They like fertilizing and resist “leaf burn” if given a soil-acidifying product such as Ironite in conjunction with regular fertilizer. Remove faded flower tips regularly.

May Gardening Tips

Planting during this month is still a good time to plant. The Vitex, oleander, crape myrtle, roses, bird of paradise, Texas sage, butterfly bush, red yucca, and most “xeriscaping” plants will thrive when planted during this month. Be sure to water thoroughly when first planted. Trees will also fall into this category. Just follow the directions as noted above.

Be sure to fertilize your lawn, shrubs, trees, and bedding plants regularly to take advantage of your watering schedule. Overwatering will NOT help “Green up” plants. Overwatering can lead to chlorotic plants or excessive yellowing or Root Rot.

Fertilizing regularly in May as needed takes advantage of the water you are applying. It also helps keep blooming plants blooming longer and resists insects and or diseases. Fertilize Mexican Elders during this time of the year. This will help before it goes into the summer dormancy. Use a good all-purpose fertilizer. Miracle Grow fertilizer will work, but you will get better results using a tree and shrub fertilizer!

A good all-purpose fertilizer such as 16-8-8 with iron and sulfur works well on almost anything.  It can also be used on other trees, shrubs, and lawns.  Try Grow More’s 20-20-20 all-purpose fertilizer it works wonders on just all about flowering plants and shrubs.

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Article by: Gary Guzman all rights reserved.