What’s In Bloom in May

Maintenance Tips In May

Fertilizing needs this month:

The best rule of thumb to go by in South Carolina when it comes to fertilizing your lawn is to wait until night time temperatures consistently stay at about 70 degrees fahrenheit. This usually happens around mid-May. This is when the roots of your lawn become fully active, and they start to require an amount of nitrogen that cannot normally be sourced solely by the environment to get them through the growing season. 

Spring and summer blooming trees, shrubs, and perennials could also benefit from a high in phosphorus feeding to encourage more blooms this May.

Pruning needs this month:

Here is a list of some common Spring-flowering plants that require pruning once they are finished flowering for the season:

• Azaleas 
• Butterfly Bush 
• Winter Daphne 
• Oakleaf Hydrangea 
• Redbuds 
• Indian Hawthorn 
• Japanese Pieris 
• Dogwoods
• Flowering Quince

Pests and diseases to look out for in May:

• Aphids. These pests like to feed on the underside of the leaves on plants like mandevilla, hibiscus, and bougainvillea just to name a few. They can usually be physically removed by hand or sprayed away by a water hose.
• Black Spot. This is a fungal disease that causes patches of discoloration on the leaves of a plant, and spreads to more and more leaves on the plant over time. Black spot infected foliage must be removed as soon as possible to prevent the spread of the disease, and an organic fungicide treatment is recommended for the remaining foliage to prevent the disease from returning.