May Tips for Zone 8 in the South

April is a month for gardeners that seems to fly by so fast! Guess time really does fly when you're having fun in the garden:-) During April, we planted over 100 new varieties of shrubs, trees, vines and roses in our trial gardens and probably more than that in annual flowers.

Now that May is here - the best month for planting perennials - we'll be planting at least a 100 or more new perennial plant varieties in the gardens. Why in May? Because the availability of perennial plant varieties is largest at nursery and garden centers during this month of the year. Soon, we'll start creating Virtual Gardens in Gardenality.com to show pictures and the lists of the plants in the gardens.

Fertilization & Feeding

Here's some timely tips and reminders for May:

• If you have yet to fertilize your warm season lawn, do so now. If you have a Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine or Zoysia lawn and new growth is emerging it's time to feed it. If there is moss growing in the lawn use a moss-killer to kill it. Aerating the lawn will allow water to penetrate deeper into the lawn soil and reduce the need for watering during the coming summer months. Use a garden fork and punch holes over the surface of your lawn or an aerating machine rented from your local equipment rental store. Consult with your local nursery and garden center professional as to what type of fertilizer is best for your type of lawn. If you apply a weed & feed type fertilizer, make sure you get the right type. Centipede and St. Augustine lawns require a specialty weed and feed that contains Atrazine weed killer. If you are planning on overseeding your Centipede lawn within the next 8 weeks, do not use a weed and feed fertilizer. Click on your grass type for fertilization instructions: Bermuda / Centipede / St. Augustine / Zoysia

  • Those who shop at Wilson Bros. Nursery:
    If you are on one of the Wilson Bros. D-I-Y Fertilization and Weed Prevention Programs for Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine or Zoysia lawns, now is the time for Step 2. Fertilize Bermuda and Zoysia lawns any time during May with Lebanon ProScape 18-04 Lawn Fertilizer w/ Barricade Weed Preventer.

  • Those who do not shop at Wilson Bros Nursery:
    If your local nursery and garden center does not carry Lebanon ProScape fertilizer, and cannot order it for you, ask for a comparable substitute.

• Fertilize cool season Fescue or Bluegrass lawns now if you did not do so in April. - If there has been average rainfall and the temperatures are not too hot, May is a good time to fertilize Fescue and Bluegrass lawns. If you have an irrigation system you can use a fertilizer higher in nitrogen (the first number in fertilizer). If you do not have an irrigation system and do not irrigate your lawn, using mild, natural, non-burning fertilizer such as Milorganite is recommended. This way, your lawn won't be burned by a high-power fertilizer while waiting for some rain to come. If you have recently overseeded use of a starter-type fertilizer will help to develop a deeper and stronger root system.

• Apply pelletized lime at this time to Fescue, Bluegrass, Bermuda, and Zoysia lawns. - If you have never applied lime to your fescue, bluegrass, Bermuda or zoysia lawn, a one-time application of 40 lbs standard pelletized lime per 500 -1,000 square feet usually corrects soil ph to a level sufficient for these grasses to thrive and fertilizers applied to break down. You can also use Green 'N Grow fast-acting pelletized lime which is specially formulated to cover 5,000 square feet per bag. Make sure to use pellitized lime as it activates instantly. Before applying lime, you may want to have your soil tested. Your Local Extension Service may provide soil testing services for free, or at a low cost. Test results will indicate any nutrient deficiencies, and the amount of lime needed to correct soil pH. Be sure to purchase "pelletized" lime. Pelletized lime is much easier to broadcast with a rotary spreader, and it activates instantly upon irrigation or rainfall. Typically, the more clay and organic content in your soil, the more lime you will need to correct the pH. Sandy soils usually require less lime, if any. Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of lime necessary for adequate coverage. Measure length x width of area(s) to be covered for total square footage.

• Fertilize shrubs and trees - It's still not too late to fertilize your trees and shrubs. Use a Shrub & Tree type fertilizer containing a micronutrient package or Milorganite (also repels deer) to fertilize shade and flowering trees, deciduous and evergreen shrubs or acid-loving plants such as Gardenias, Rhododendrons, Camellias, Azaleas, and Junipers, etc. Be sure to water the fertilizer in thoroughly after application.

• Fertilize perennials with a well-balanced flower fertilizer or organic plant food.

• Fertilize roses if you haven't done so within the last six weeks. - Fertilize roses every 6 weeks or so with a well-balanced rose fertilizer or organic plant food.

• Mulch around plants and trees. May is a good time to get an extra coat of mulch on the ground, particularly around the root systems of shrubs, perennials and trees. A 1-inch thick layer of shredded wood mulch or a 2-inch thick layer of pinestraw will help hold in moisture as the temperatures increase. The mulch will also decompose over time into rich organic matter that your plants will certainly appreciate. Avoid putting mulch too thick as this can keep water from reaching the roots and also fungus can develop. Keep at least a 2-inch space between the mulch and the trunks of trees. This helps to avoid problems with rot.