In Northern United States and Canada
There is still time to plant evergreens. As long as you do this before the new growth is excessively far advanced, and as long as they have a good root ball and are mulched and well watered after planting, they will live and prosper. May is a good time to transplant Magnolias and Tulip trees. Continue to make sowings of hardy annuals and vegetables. As soon as the weather is settled and the ground reasonably warm, make sowings of Corn, Cucumbers, Melons, Squash, Snap Beans and Lima Beans.
When danger of cool nights has passed, set out Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants and green Dahlia plants. Geraniums, Heliotropes, Lantanas, Coleus, Cannas, Caladiums and Begonias may be planted outdoors late this month or early in June. Make successional plantings of Gladioli, Montbretias and Tuberoses. Don't cut off the foliage of Spring-flowering bulbs until it has died completely.
If dry weather prevails, Peas, Sweet Peas and many other garden plants will benefit from copious watering. Remember especially regularly to water trees, shrubs and evergreens planted this Spring. Chrysanthemums, Summer Phlox and some other perennials that tend to grow excessively tall and lanky may be induced to bush out if the tips of their growing shoots are pinched out.
Peony flowers will be larger and more perfect if you disbud them by taking off the side buds when they are the size of small peas. Don't delay the staking and tying of perennials. Toward the end of the month is a good time to sow seeds of perennials and biennials in a coldframe or sheltered seed bed outdoors. After they have bloomed is a good time to propagate by division Creeping Phlox, Arabis, Polyanthus Primroses and many other rock garden plants.
Thin out young plants of vegetables and annuals that are crowding each other, and keep the hoe and cultivator busy stirring the surface soil. Do whatever pruning is needed to Spring-flowering trees and shrubs as soon as they are through flowering. Poinsettias should now be brought out of storage and started into growth. Continue to feed both greenhouse plants and house plants which have filled their containers with healthy roots.
In the South
Fertilize Roses to stimulate new vigorous growth that will bear a second flush of flowers in early Summer. Mow lawns regularly and fertilize them lightly when the grass is dry. Water copiously if long spells of dry weather occur.
Fertilize annuals that seem not to be growing rapidly enough. Cut back Petunias and Sweet Alyssum that are becoming straggly to induce bushiness and fresh crops of flowers. Make successional sowings of hot-weather annuals. Dwarf Dahlias sown outdoors now will make a fine display of bloom later.
In the vegetable plot sow Soy Beans, Okra, Melons, Watermelons, Corn, Snap Beans and Lima Beans, Squash and Field Peas. Sow Tomatoes for late cropping. Stake Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplants before they become so tall that there is danger of damage by storms. Apply a side dressing of fertilizer to these and to Cucumbers, Corn, Beans and other vegetables in need of extra nutrition.
On the West Coast
Don't allow Fuchsias or Begonias to suffer from lack of moisture. Specimens that have filled their containers with healthy roots benefit from feeding regularly with dilute liquid fertilizer also try to know how to root lantana. Plants of Tuberous Begonias set out in May bloom freely from mid-July on. Remove old plants of Cinerarias, Primulas and others that made such a brave show earlier and which are kinds that are discarded after flowering. Replace them with such kinds as Tuberous Begonias, Impatiens and Fuchsias where the location is shaded, with Ageratums, Petunias, Zinnias, Dwarf Dahlias, Snapdragons and the like in sunny locations.
Fertilize Camellias, Rhododendrons and Azaleas after they are through blooming, and mulch the soil beneath them. Make succession plantings of annuals and vegetables. Prune Spring-flowering shrubs that need such attention. Keep plants staked, tied, sprayed and watered.
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