KJFM NEWS — Garden Talk is produced monthly at the Adair County University of Missouri Extension Center in Kirksville, Mo.

MAY GARDENING TIPS

• protective fungicidal sprays applied when these trees bloom. Apples, crabapples and hawthorns susceptible to rust disease should have
• Pinch azaleas and rhododendron blossoms as they fade. Double flowered azaleas need no pinching. Fertilize azaleas after bloom with a formulation that has acid
• Bulbs can be moved or divided as the foliage dies. Don’t remove spring bulb foliage prematurely or next year’s flower production will
• Monitor pines, especially Scotch and mugo, for sawfly activity on new Scale crawlers are active now. Treat infested pines and euonymus.
• Plant hardy water lilies in tubs or garden
• Plant summer bulbs such as caladiums, dahlias, cannas and elephant ears. Begin planting gladiolus bulbs as the ground warms. Continue at 2-week
• Begin planting warm-season
• Begin fertilizing Continue at regular intervals.
• Trees with a history of borer problems should receive their first spray now. Repeat twice at 3-week
• Pinch back mums to promote bushy

Lawns

• Mow bluegrass at 5 to 2.5 inch height; tall fescue at 2 to 3.5 inch height; and zoysia lawns at 1.5 inch height.
• Apply post-emergence broadleaf weed controls now if
• Watch for sod webworms emerging

Vegetables

• Place cutworm collars around young Collars are easily made from cardboard strips.

• Slugs will hide during the daytime beneath a board placed over damp Check each morning and destroy slugs that have gathered.
• Keep asparagus harvested for continued spear production. Control asparagus beetles as needed.
• Begin planting sweet corn as soon as white oak leaves are as big as squirrel To prevent crossing, isolate sweet, super sweet and popcorn varieties.
• Thin plantings of carrots and beets to avoid
• Control caterpillars on broccoli and cabbage plants by handpicking or use biological sprays such as B.t.
• Set out tomato plants as soils Place support stakes at planting.
• Place a stake by seeds of squash and cucumbers when planting in hills to locate the root zone watering site after the vines have run.

• Remove rhubarb seed stalks as they
• Watch for striped and spotted cucumber beetles. Both may spread wilt and mosaic diseases to squash and cucumber
• Set out peppers and eggplants after soils have warmed. Plant sweet potatoes now. Make new sowings of warm-season vegetables after harvesting early

Fruits

• Mulch blueberries with pine needles or
• Don’t spray any fruits while in bloom. Refer to local Extension publications for fruit spray schedule.

Miscellaneous

• Take houseplants outdoors when nights remain above 50 degrees. Most prefer only direct morning sun. Sink houseplants up to their rims in soil or mulch to conserve Fertilize regularly.