May 1999

• Visit Botanic Gardens , parks and other gardens to get fresh ideas for this year for your garden.
  
• Don't forget to browse through magazines and glossy books.
  
• Before transplanting to the garden any type of store bought plants or your own seedlings water them thoroughly.  It will be less of a shock for them.
  
• Make sure you also harden the plants off if they have been indoors all the while.  Harden them by first keeping them outside in the shade for a few hours, then increase the length of time and gradually expose them to the sun for a day or so.  When they have also spent a couple of nights outside then they are ready for outdoor planting.  Plant them early in the morning or else on a cloudy day.  Give them a good dose of water and don't forget to keep them moist for the first couple of weeks.
  
• Give your house plants a mini vacation by taking them outside for the summer.  Don't forget to harden them off and be sure to keep them in the shade.
  
• When buying plants whether annual flowers or vegetables or perennials be sure to buy short, stocky items with no open flowers.  This will give time for the roots to adjust themselves to their new environment without stressing over the flowers.  Most of a plant's energy is used up in flower production.
  
• Plant all your warm weather veggies.  Be it squashes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn…
  
• Prepare all your terra cotta containers (or what have you) for a full display of color and texture.  Do something different this year: buy a new or antique urn or wheelbarrow and plant some unusual combinations of different annuals and herbs.  Mix annuals and perennials along with houseplants.. Make the potted objects moveable feasts!
  
• Fertilize your lawn if you haven't already.  Otherwise get a mulching mower.  As hot weather approaches keep your lawn mower set a notch higher, the taller blades will shade the surface and retain moisture.
  
• Turn your compost pile.
  
• Give young seedlings tender care on hot days.  A floating row cover will keep salad cooler and keep certain pests out.
  
• Sow biennials; they will bloom next year.
  
• Mulch your flower and vegetable beds.  A good organic layer will keep moisture in and heat out.  It will also prevent many weeds from germinating.  Use compost, rotted manure, shredded bark or hardwoods, straw, cocoa shells… Be sure to add extra nitrogen to the soil as the mulch decomposes it tends to rob nitrogen from the soil and therefore from the plants.  This is especially true with the bark and wood shavings.  After the mulch decomposes turn it in into the soil for next year's planting.
  
• Sip some ice tea and enjoy your flowers.