Bloomin Times

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May 2000

PRUNING

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Now is a good time to prune Pussy Willow, Forsythia, Quince, Flowering Almond, Corylopsis, and Witch Hazel

Prune suckers from maples, magnolias and fruit trees

Pruning or shaping of evergreens such as Hemlocks, Pines, Spruces and Yews, should be delayed until the new spring growth has had a chance to more fully develop....But you want to make sure and have your evergreens pruned by the middle of July so that any new growth that has been made up to then, will have a chance to harden off before winter.

   THIN SEEDLINGS

Sometimes when you sow seeds, they come up in thick bunches. If you want your flower beds, borders, or vegetable gardens to flourish, you are going to have to thin out some of those little seedlings. This can be a very tedious task, but well worth the effort.

There are several ways to do this, one way is to pull out clumps of seedlings every few inches, then go back in a few days and thin out some of the remaining clumps. A more efficient way is to move along your rows or beds and actually separate the seedlings to the distance that is recommended.

   FRUIT TREES

Do NOT spray your fruit trees with insecticides when they are in bloom. This is the time when bees are very active and chemicals like Sevin, although low in toxicity to people and warm-blooded animals, is toxic to bees.....Wait to spray with insecticides until the petals have dropped, you can however spray fungicides to control apple scab and peach rot while trees are in bloom.

Apples, Pears, Sweet Cherries and Plums do not pollinate themselves so make sure that you plant at least 2 compatible varieties if you want to harvest fruit.

Most Peach varieties and Sour Cherries are self pollinators as are Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, and Grapes, which means they will pollinate themselves, and don't require cross pollination.

   MAY WILDFLOWERS
 Anemone (wood)                 May Apple 
 Bellflower                     Moccasin Flower 
 Bunchberry                     Solomon's Seal
 Buttercups                     Star-Flower (anemone)
 Wild Columbines                Toadflax 
 Fringed  Polygaia              Trillium
 Honeysuckle                    Trailing Arbutus 
 Jack-in-the-Pulpit             Violets
 Yellow Lady Slipper            Wild Geraniums
 Mountain Laurel                Yellow Trout Lily
			
BLOOMIN ROUND YOUR HOME

Bleeding Hearts..... Bradford Pears..... Candytuft..... Chionodoxa..... Daffodils.....
Dogwoods..... Flowering Almond..... Fritillaria (guinea-hen)..... Fruit Trees.....
Grape Hyacinth..... Helleborus..... Hyacinth..... Japanese Quince..... Lilacs.....
Magnolias..... Narcissus..... Primrose..... Siberian Squill..... and Tulips

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Here is a list of birds that will be migrating northward in May. If you keep your feeders filled you have a greater chance of seeing some of them, as they stop by your feeders for a quick snack or a much needed meal.

Catbird
Crested Flycatcher
Goldfinch
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
Oriole
Redstart
Vireos

Birds like to quickly zip into shrubs and evergreens such as pines, spruce, firs, and hemlocks for cover and lookout.

Shrubbery also provides excellent housing for birds; many prefer privet, viburnum, honeysuckle, or lilac for their nest-building. They also like to build nests high in trees like maples, oaks, apples, and crabapples.

Dogwoods, junipers, mulberry, sunflowers, barberries, and hypericums all produce either fruit or seeds that are a welcome treat to many birds.

To Do List
- May -

Although spring is a very busy time of the year for gardeners....don't overdo it....

When your daffodils and tulips are done blooming it is a good practice to remove the dead flower stalk and seedhead

This is the time to plant your annuals and vegetable plants, make sure and water them good at planting time

Prepare the ground for your Dahlia tubers, plant them towards the end of the month

Try and get any new roses planted by the end of the month

When your roses are in full leaf, begin a weekly spray program and continue it throughout the summer

Mulch your beds, trees and evergreens now to help conserve moisture during the hot dry summer

Mulch your Strawberries with salt hay to prevent the fruit from being spattered

Try and get any evergreens or dormant trees and shrubs planted as soon as possible

Make your first planting of Gladiolus now, then repeat plantings every two or three weeks to extend the flowering time

Spray tent caterpillars in the evening if any are spotted

Clematis and or any other vines should be neatly tied up with raffia of soft cord

By picking off the side buds of Peonies, you force the growth into the terminal bud thus resulting in a larger flower

Get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful spring weather !!!

Wait to prune roses until new buds break. If any aphids are spotted, start spraying them

Now is a good time to clean out any garden pool or pond

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