Above average rainfall in April means Southern California plants and trees have absorbed plenty of nutrients in their roots to jump start garden growth in May.
Plant Flowers: Now is the time to plant warm-season annuals including begonias, chrysanthemums, geraniums, marigolds, petunias and verbena. Their beautiful flowers will bloom well into summer. For more permanent additions to your garden, plant perennials such as daisies, iris, goldenrod, fuchsia, delphiniums and lavender.
Plant Vegetable Seeds: Plant seeds from corn, sweet potatoes, broccoli, green beans, radishes, sunflowers, melons, squash, cucumbers and okra. Since the weather is warming, you can plant the seeds directly in the ground without using starter plants indoors.
Plant Herbs: One of the greatest "returns on investment" in the garden is herbs. Herbs are expensive at the store and sometimes go bad before they can be eaten. Planting herbs such as basil, chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage tarragon and thyme will assure a bountiful supply of just-picked herbs for cooking. Plus, the cost of planting and caring for herb plants is only a fraction of the cost of purchasing herbs continually at the store.
Naturally Reduce Weeds: Plenty of chemical weed killers are available to consumers, but if you want to avoid spraying potentially harmful substances around your vegetables and flowers, apply a two-inch layer of mulch (i.e., wood bark) around your garden. The mulch acts as a natural barrier to weed growth and keeps in water and nutrients.
Thin Fruit Trees: By now, fruit trees are producing blossoms and the first signs of fruit. More fruit is produced than most trees can fully grow to maturity. Weaker blossoms and fruit will fall on their own in May. Thin the remaining smaller fruit from the branches. As a result, stronger fruit will grow larger and smaller fruit won't weigh down tree branches.
Plant Flowers: Now is the time to plant warm-season annuals including begonias, chrysanthemums, geraniums, marigolds, petunias and verbena. Their beautiful flowers will bloom well into summer. For more permanent additions to your garden, plant perennials such as daisies, iris, goldenrod, fuchsia, delphiniums and lavender.
Plant Vegetable Seeds: Plant seeds from corn, sweet potatoes, broccoli, green beans, radishes, sunflowers, melons, squash, cucumbers and okra. Since the weather is warming, you can plant the seeds directly in the ground without using starter plants indoors.
Plant Herbs: One of the greatest "returns on investment" in the garden is herbs. Herbs are expensive at the store and sometimes go bad before they can be eaten. Planting herbs such as basil, chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage tarragon and thyme will assure a bountiful supply of just-picked herbs for cooking. Plus, the cost of planting and caring for herb plants is only a fraction of the cost of purchasing herbs continually at the store.
Naturally Reduce Weeds: Plenty of chemical weed killers are available to consumers, but if you want to avoid spraying potentially harmful substances around your vegetables and flowers, apply a two-inch layer of mulch (i.e., wood bark) around your garden. The mulch acts as a natural barrier to weed growth and keeps in water and nutrients.
Thin Fruit Trees: By now, fruit trees are producing blossoms and the first signs of fruit. More fruit is produced than most trees can fully grow to maturity. Weaker blossoms and fruit will fall on their own in May. Thin the remaining smaller fruit from the branches. As a result, stronger fruit will grow larger and smaller fruit won't weigh down tree branches.