May Landscape Tasks

May is here and you know what that means, it’s go time! 

Gardening tasks are on the minds of many once this time of year rolls around. With warmer weather here to stay for a while, you’ll likely spend more time outside with friends and family. Get your yard ready for summer fun by checking off these landscape tasks for the month of May.

• Crape myrtles are a favorite plant among southern states. They come in a variety of pink, purple, red, and white shades to add color to your yard. When purchasing your tree, you want to be sure to select the right size variety for your landscape. Get the full rundown on all things crape myrtles in Publication 2007, “Crapemyrtle – Flower of the South.” 
• Caring for your yard is a full-time job many homeowners take on during the summer. The first step to take before regularly mowing your lawn is fertilizing. Your lawn should be fertilized after it turns green and has been mowed twice. This is a crucial step for having a healthy lawn all summer! For other tips on how maintain a healthy lawn, check out Extension Publication 1322, “Establish and Manage Your Home Lawn.”
• If you haven’t already, prune your spring flowering shrubs back. Do not take the pruning shears to the shrubs until the bloom period is complete! For many of us, the unseasonal cold snaps shortened the bloom time on many spring shrubs. Azaleas, spiraeas, camellias, and forsythia are all shrubs that need to be pruned to encourage growth for the following year. “Pruning Landscape Plants” is a handy information sheet to help you learn more about how to properly prune plants around your yard! 
• There’s nothing more fun than a Saturday morning visit to the garden store to purchase flowers for your yard! Summer annuals and perennials are a great way to add a pop of color to your landscape. If you don’t have designated flower beds, try container gardening! Add a few containers to your porch area for a nice way to spruce up the area! Don’t know what to plant? Extension Publication 1826, “Annual and Perennial Flowers for Mississippi Gardens,” offers suggestions that are made to thrive in Mississippi’s climate! 
• When buying flowers, don’t forget to pick up a few bags of mulch! Mulch is an important part of gardening as it helps regulate soil temperatures, control weeds, and holds moisture. A proper mulch job consists of 2 to 3 inches of mulch spread around the base of plants. 
• With warmer weather comes many, many bugs. They’re a nuisance to people, but also harmful to the health of your plants. Gently and thoroughly inspect your plants for any pests that may cause harmful damage. Watch carefully for signs of garden pests and other plant diseases. You can learn more on how to identify and control pests by heading over to the gardening section of our website! 

You’ll also need to be persistent in tending to weeds in your landscape beds. You don’t want weeds to overrun your flowerbeds, so be consistent in removing weeds. Learn more about controlling weeds in our weed management publication!  

If you have any gardening or landscape questions arise while you’re out working, give your local Extension office a call!