Gardening Tasks for May

MSU Extension Service

Video by Michaela Parker

With so many Mississippians staying at home more than usual, it’s the perfect time to start planning your summer landscape. Many local garden stores are open and ready to accommodate shoppers with a variety of practices to keep them health and safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. Be sure to call or check social media before you go to see what their store policies are.

Whether you’re a new or seasoned gardener, here are a few tasks you should be doing during the month of May.

Select and plant crape myrtles. Our number one asked question is how to care for crape myrtles. If you want to jump on the crape myrtle train, now is the time to do so! Check out Extension Publication 2007, “Crape Myrtle - Flower of the South” for great information on how to plant and care for them. Pro tip: select the right size variety for your landscape. This will help you avoid the temptation to commit “crape murder” later when the plant grows to its full height.
Plant summer annuals and perennials. I can’t be the only one that gets giddy with the idea of planting gorgeous summer flowers around my yard! If you need help picking the right flowers for your yard, Extension Publication 1826, “Annual & Perennial Flowers for Mississippi Gardens” is a good place to start. Container gardening is another fun way to spruce up your landscape. Here are container ideas for shade and sun.
Prune all spring flowering shrubs after their bloom period is complete. If you have azaleas, spiraeas, camellias, or forsythia in your yard, now is the time to prune them. Information Sheet 0204, “Pruning Landscape Plants” can guide you through the process.
With summer weather comes pesky pests. Keep an eye on your plants for any garden pests. If you see a pest problem, treat them with an insecticide. If you’re not sure how to identify and control the problem, you can check out the insect section of the Garden Tabloid, or call your Extension agent.