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The mild weather in North Central Texas means gardeners can stay busy most of the year. Here's some advice on what to do and when to do it.
- It is not too late to direct sow seeds of sunflower, zinnia, morning glory, portulaca,
marigold, cosmos, periwinkles, and gourds. Achimenes, cannas, dahlias, and other
summer-flowering bulbs can also be planted in May.
- Allow foliage of spring-flowering bulbs to mature and yellow before removing.
- Pinch back the terminal growth on newly planted annual and perennial plants. This
will result in shorter, more compact, well branched plants with more flowers.
- May is a good time to plant caladium tubers, impatiens, coleus, begonias, and pentas
in shady areas.
- Replace or replenish mulch materials in flower beds and shrub borders to conserve
moisture and reduce weed growth.
- Make cuttings of your favorite chrysanthemums and root them in a mixture of sand
and peat moss. Cover cutting box with plastic and place in shaded area for 5 or
6 days to prevent wilting.
- Prune climbing roses as they complete their spring bloom season. Remove dead or
weak wood as needed.
- Take a critical look at your landscape while at the height of summer development.
Make notes of how you think it can be better arranged, plants that need replacement,
overgrown plants that need to be removed, and possible activity areas that can be
enjoyed by family members.
- Check for insects and diseases. Destroy badly infested plants. Spider mites can
be especially troublesome at this time. Select a chemical or organic control, or
use insecticidal soap.
- During the summer, soil moisture becomes extremely important and essential for good
plant production. Because continual watering is oftentimes costly and time consuming,
it pays to conserve the moisture around plants. This is best done by mulching. A
good mulch will retain valuable moisture needed for plant growth, and improve overall
gardening success. Mulches are usually applied 2 to 6 inches deep, depending on
the material used. In general, the coarser the material, the deeper the mulch. For
example, a 2-inch layer of cottonseed hulls will have about the same mulching effect
as 6 inches of oat straw or 4 inches of coastal Bermuda hay.
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