Organic gardening calendar for May
April 30, 2009 · Filed Under Events and News
Written by Gail I. Morris Special to the Star-Telegram, Published Online Thursday, April 30. Link: http://www.star-telegram.com/living/story/1351070.html
Week 1: May 3-9
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To rejuvenate forsythia, prune 1 of every 3 branches after it blooms. Plant begonias, lobelia, periwinkles and other warm-season annuals. Purchase plants that have buds that are not yet open. If you buy plants already in bloom, cut off spent blooms so new buds will form.
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Replant your stored lemongrass bulb if you dug it up last fall or purchase a new lemongrass bulb.
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Stake young plants that tend to flop over when mature.
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Prune climbing rose bushes after first flush if needed to contain size.
Week 2: May 10-16
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Fertilize container plants once a week up to 2 to 3 times per month, depending on the size of the container. Water the container’s soil before applying fertilizer. Allow the water to soak into the soil, then fertilize. Organic fertilizers, such as Rabbit Hill Farms Something Special, are produced specifically for container plants. If you choose to feed your container plants with a liquid, use 2 to 3 tablespoons of Bioform, Medina or Agrispon per gallon of water.
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Feed daffodils and irises using an organic fertilizer such as earthworm castings, Bioform Dry or other organic products supplied by your local organic nursery.
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Mix and spray 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a gallon of water for blackspot on roses. Deadhead spent blooms.
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Remove 2 to 3 peaches of every 4 to produce larger fruit and keep limbs from breaking from the weight. Thin fruit when it is about the size of marbles.
Week 3: May 17-23
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Peas are ready to harvest 3 weeks after the first blooms appear. Use little scissors or pinch off by hand. Harvest often, so they’ll produce more.
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Weeds or grass overtaking a flower bed? Solarize it. Place a sheet of black plastic over the area and weigh down the edges with rocks or bricks. Leave it for a few months in the hot sun, then remove the plastic to plant.
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Recycle tea grounds around roses, azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. Recycle coffee grounds around lilies. Unless you use unbleached filters, toss the filters into the trash. Otherwise, bury or compost the filter, too.
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Repot, if necessary, and take sun-loving houseplants outside. Gradually acclimate inside plants by placing them in the shade for a few weeks.
Week 4: May 24-30
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Plant a pot of nasturtiums and move around the garden where aphids have set up shop. Nasturtiums are a trap plant for aphids as well as other small pests. Once the aphids are on the nasturtiums, move it to a concrete area, hose off the aphids and reset the trap.
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To increase blooms on crape myrtles, sprinkle a light handful of Epsom salts around the roots.
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Put out molasses traps to kill grasshoppers. Mix and place in a flat lid or container, one part molasses to 8 to 10 parts water. Clean and replenish as necessary.
GAIL I. MORRIS IS A MEMBER OF THE ORGANIC GARDEN CLUB OF FORT WORTH AND CROSS TIMBERS MASTER NATURALISTS. SHE CAN BE CONTACTED THROUGH WWW.MAGGIESGARDEN.COM; CLICK ON “ORGANIC GUIDE.”