May Garden To-Do List for the Mid-Atlantic

May always looks like the busiest month of the gardener ’s yr , and there seems to be a never - terminate list of chores . These are just a few task that can be done this calendar month .

It ’s dahlia time . Dahlia tubers ( Dahliaspp . and cvs . , Zones 7–11 ) should be implant this month . They are not hardy in the Mid - Atlantic , so constitute them as you would summer yearly . When planting , add a fiddling bone repast to help make theme outgrowth . The warm the roots , the big the flower . Do not forget to plant in well - drained soil , as these tubers ( like most tubers ) do not care wet foundation .

Plant your warm - season veggies . set your tomato , peppers , and Solanum melongena in mid - to - late May . Most commonly planted nightshade thrive in raging weather , so planting by and by is best . Ideally , this triad likes grime temperature to be above 55 ° F before planting .

Stake your peonies . Winter and spring in the Mid - Atlantic region have been warmer than usual , so many flora are far along than normal . Big , beautiful peony flush ( Paeoniaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) need some support against flopping , so be sure to stake them . The gruelling bloom be given to tip as soon as we get a hard pelting . Peony cages are a good choice . However , if you do n’t have them , bamboo bet and string employment just as well .

Start a excision - efflorescence garden from semen . Fast - growing annuals such as zinnia ( Zinnia elegans ) , cosmos ( Cosmos bipinnatus ) , and bachelor ’s buttons ( Centaurea cyanus ) can be planted now . These flowers do not need to be started indoors . Their germination clip is normally under a hebdomad , and they ’re very reliable . Whether it ’s an accession to an existing garden seam or a new mini hayfield , a cut - peak country is always an enjoyable garden undertaking . create a cut - flower garden by sow in easy - to - rise annual directly is also a merriment , well-off project for kids who are learn at home plate .

Weed , Mary Jane , and weed some more . The springiness time of year in our neighborhood has been quite fond , and there has been passel of rain . Everything is grow quickly , specially the weeds . In the Mid - Atlantic the grass populations seem to have exploded overnight . As every nurseryman knows , weeding is essential to make way for emerging plants as well as tidying up the garden . An excellent book for weed recognition isWeeds of the Northeast . It is a heavy resource for read rough-cut weeds , their growing season , and their life cycle . This playscript can avail with identifying when sealed weeds go to semen and if they can be tear or cut back before then to keep the universe down next yr .

— Michele Christiano is a gardening helper at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square , Pennsylvania .

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red velvet dahlia

Plant dahlias this month while you dream about their colorful blooms to come later in the season. Pictured: ‘Red Velvet’ dahlia. Photo: Jennifer Benner