May is a month of change in Florida. Summer is just around the corner, but it often ends with some fun temperature swings that can vary from comfortable to sweltering. In any case, take advantage of the good days to get out in the garden and prepare for the warmer days ahead. Here are some garden and landscape tips for May.
Drier times in the garden
If you look at historical data, the spring in Northeast Florida is one of our driest periods and we saw this in April of this year, as frequent winter rains gave way to weekly storms . This trend may continue into May before we return to our usual summer showers. Without much rain, be sure to keep an eye on newly planted lawns and landscapes to make sure the plants have plenty of water during their first few months of life and you may have to start watering your lawn once or twice a week if dry time persists. However, do not waste too much water on your grass, and only water if the grass begins to show stress such as leaf folding. Other ways to help water conservation and retention during the dry season are through the effective use of mulch, choosing plants that match the characteristics of your garden and the region, and using a barrel of rain to capture rainwater for use in the garden.
