1.Plant flowers: This is a perfect time for flowering annuals and

perennials. Begonias, zinnias, marigolds, moss-roses, purslanes and

vinca are all good choices. Perennials? Lantanas, salvias, verbenas.

2 Vegetable garden care: Water deeply to encourage a deep, drought-

tolerant root system, especially after last year’s heatwave. 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 the new spring growth is attractive to every

kind of critter imaginable. Be nice to the environment (and to your-

self) 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: With lots of new birds in the area, keep those feeders

full.
10. Grow basil: The top herb for the summer months is basil. With the

nights getting warmer, this wonderful herb should finally have the temp-

eratures it needs to take off.    

              Happy Mother's Day... and Happy Gardening Everyone!