1.Plant flowers: May is a perfect time for flowering annuals and perennials.
Begonias, zinnias, marigolds, moss-roses, purslanes, and vinca are all good
choices. Perennials might include lantanas, salvias, and verbenas.

2. Vegetable garden care: Water deeply to encourage a deep, drought tolerant
root system. Still time to add a few warm season crops: sweet and hot peppers,
green beans, okra, eggplant, and black-eyed peas. Fertilize tomatoes.

3. Mulch: Place around all plants to conserve water and keep the temperature
around the plant roots comfortable. Mixing some compost with the mulch will
help replace nutrients as the plants grow.

4.Care of  roses:  Dead-head spring flowering roses to encourage a new flush
of flowers. Apply fertilizer to produce new flowers. Watch for powdery mildew, 
black spot and western flower thrip. Treat with organic sprays: Neem oil and
wettable-sulphur.

5 .Move houseplants outside: Put them out for a spring breather. Move them
slowly towards their new light exposure. Too much sun too fast will burn the leaves.
This is also a good time for transplanting.

6. Insect control: All this new spring growth is attractive to every kind of critter
imaginable. Be nice to the environment (and to yourself) and only use organic sprays.
If you have larvae (caterpillars) eating holes in your plants and trees, look for
products that have B.T. as the main ingredient. If sucking insects like aphids, spider
mites, whitefly, scale, and mealy bug are the problem, use Neem oil or Spinosad.

7. Maintain irrigation: If you own an automatic sprinkler system, it would save
water and money to have it tuned up. Set the controller for deep, infrequent watering
to encourage a deep, drought-resistant root system. Install rain sensor.

8. Fertilize lawn: Use an organic blend with a 3-1-2 ratio. Ten pounds per 1,000
square feet of turf area should be adequate.

9. Feed the birds: We have  lots of new birds in the area, so keep those feeders full.
Remember Austin is the live music capital of the world.... and part of this music is the
beautiful birdsong that we wake up to each morning. 

10. Grow basil: The top herb for the summer months is basil. With the nights getting
warmer, this wonderful herb should finally have the temperatures it needs to take off.

Happy spring gardening everyone!