MAY
GARDENING TIPS
May brings warmer sunnier days, cooler nights and springtime rains, the perfect combo to get your newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials established! Here are some timely tips to make the most of your May garden.
Malus Crabapple photo by keith kurman
Viburnum burkwoodii photo by Keith Kurman
Bleeding Hearts photo by Keith Kurman
ANNUALS: Cool-Weather Favorites Are Ready to be Planted
Get Planting: The Secret to Summer Success
Annuals thrive in cooler spring weather, making now the perfect time to brighten your beds and containers. Planting both annuals and perennials between May 1st and May 10th, just after the frost-free date, allows them to establish deep root systems in cooler soil. This head start ensures stronger plants and superior performance once the summer heat arrives.
Pro Tip: Dig your planting holes twice the size of the root ball and supplement the soil with organic compost or Espoma Bio-tone (mycorrhizae) for the best results.
Away from the Island? Contact Vineyard Gardens today. We can get your annuals in the ground now so you can arrive to a garden already bursting with color!
Pansies, Violas, Alyssum, Calendulas, Bachelor Buttons, Argyranthemum Daisies, Osteospermum, Lobelia
*****************
SOIL CARE: Feed the Foundation
Nourish your soil! Healthy soil = happy plants. Now is the time to enrich your soil with nutrients that support strong roots and vibrant growth. Whether you’re using bagged compost like Coast of Maine or Fafard, or creating your own from kitchen and yard waste, your plants will thank you.
Pro Tip: Test your soil! We’ve got easy-to-use soil testing kits in stock, so you can give your plants exactly what they need from the ground up.
*****************
FERTILIZE: Give Last Year’s Plantings a Boost
Time to fertilize last years new plantings. Sprinkle organic fertilizer around the drip line (not too close to the base), where roots are actively growing. Organic fertilizers are best for slow, steady feeding and include secondary nutrients like calcium and magnesium, along with the essentials: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).
*****************
MULCH: Nature’s Blanket
Leaf compost is a great island resource to use in your garden beds! This imitates the annual forest leaf fall and provides established plants with all the nutrients they need. Use leaves from your own yard and and/or leaf compost (shredded leaf mulch) that we carry to return local island nutrients to your gardens. We carry shredded leaf compost (island grown) as well as bagged Coast of Main mulches.
Front Garden, Camisitas
Lupine
PERENNIALS: Time to Plant and Divide!
It’s prime time to start planting your perennials. Already have some in the ground? If they bloom in summer or fall and are starting to emerge, now is a great time to divide them and spread the beauty.
*****************
VEGETABLE GARDENS: Plant Now, Harvest Later
Prep and plant those garden beds! May is the season for cool-weather veggies, small fruits, and fruit trees. These are available at the nursery now! And a heads-up, mid to late May we will be bringing our basil and tomatoes out from our production facility to the nursery, but hold off planting them until nighttime temps warm up a bit more.
Cool Weather Greens
Blueberry flowers
TREES & SHRUBS: Perfect Planting Weather
Now is a great time to add trees or shrubs to your property. Early May brings sunny day, cool nights and springtime rain which are all great ingredients to get your trees and shrubs established! It’s the sweet spot to help them settle in and thrive through summer and beyond.
*****************
PRUNE: Out With the Old
Now’s the time to prune away dead or diseased wood from trees and deciduous shrubs. Focus on plants that bloom on new growth.
*****************
LAWN CARE: Out With the Old
Want a lush lawn all summer? May lawn tips:
Water less often, but deeply, to encourage deeper roots.
Mow a bit higher to prevent browning in the heat of summer.
Apply fertilizer if you skipped April.
Lime your lawn if you missed it in the fall, this helps balance soil pH over time. Lime now to ensure a healthy fall lawn.
Always think ahead when gardening. Timing is everything!
Black Chokecherry