Need help planting a successful garden or landscape? Here are some May planting tips from the Dallas Arboretum horticulture staff and the Dallas County Master Gardeners that can help keep your home garden looking beautiful this Summer. Heat tolerant plant care should be your focus in May.
- Plant your heat tolerant summer annuals and tropicals, if you haven’t already. Our favorites for the heat are Lantana, Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine, Purple Fountain Grass, Ornamental Peppers, Coleus, Elephant Ears, Caladiums, Pentas, and Tropical Hibiscus.
- Continue planting perennials, trees and shrubs. Just be sure to water them in well as the temperature rises and continue watering them regularly, making sure to saturate the root ball on trees and shrubs as much as twice per week, throughout the summer.
- The last of the heat tolerant veggies and annual herbs can be planted until mid month, including Southern Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Basil and Oregano.
- Fertilize your lawn and garden with a high nitrogen fertilizer, following recommended application rates.
- Be sure to water grass regularly during the hot summer months, up to one inch depth, 2 to 3 times weekly, or what your city water restrictions will allow.
- Mow your lawn once per week to maintain good healthy growth and reduce any unnecessary wear and tear on lawn equipment.
- Continue pruning and reshaping any spring blooming shrubs and vines after they finish flowering.