Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) are the gardener’s
first choice for bringing color to that shady spot.
These bright annuals perform best in a part-shade
to shady area where the soil in moist and well-
drained. Plant in mid-May after the danger of frost
has passed and the soil has warmed. Impatiens
planted in cool soil are slow to establish. With our
short growing season, you may want to plant your
impatiens a little closer than suggested on the plant tag so your garden bed is filled with color more quickly. They enjoy regular feeding throughout the summer with a water soluble-fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster or Bachman’s Mighty Bloom. Keep them moist especially during hot weather.
For compact, bushy plants look for the Accent (6-8”ht), Super Elfin (8-10”ht), and Dazzler (8”ht) series. A large variety of colors are available. Taller impatiens are available in the Showstopper (10-12”ht) and Blitz (14-16”ht) series. These are terrific varieties for garden beds, hanging baskets and container gardens.
Serviceberries and Hawthorns
Looking for an alternative to ornamental crabapple trees? Take a look at
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry and Thornless Hawthorn. Each brings flowers
to the spring landscape, produces fruit for the birds to enjoy, and turns color in the fall. Serviceberries (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’) prefer a moist, well-drained acidic soil. It grows to about 20’ and has a somewhat rounded form. The white flowers in early May are followed by tasty fruit that
will be enjoyed by robins, cedar waxwings, catbirds, and orioles. The fall
color is a brilliant red. Available in both tree and clump forms; this tree would make a great addition to a small yard or mixed tree and shrub border.
The Thornless Hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis) offers the same
benefits: white flowers in spring, followed by small 3/8” fruit that will be
showy red in the fall. The fall color is a bronze-red. The fruit is a food source
for the birds over the fall and winter months. The tree prefers a sunny area
with well-drained soil, but will tolerate clay soils and is drought tolerant once established. This tree grows to 15-20’ in height and width and is found in both tree and clump forms. The dark glossy green foliage and spreading horizontal form of the plant make it a picturesque addition to the landscape.
Crabgrass and Dandelions
Don’t worry; there is still time to apply crabgrass
preventer to your lawn. Bachman’s Crabgrass
Preventer with Turf Food contains Dimension,
an effective pre- and post-emergent. Dimension
works as a pre-emergent by interrupting the
seed germination process and works as a
post-emergent by killing newly emerged
crabgrass plants when in the 1-4 leaf stage. For our area, the best time to apply crabgrass preventer is when the soil temperatures are consistently 55 degrees, but with Bachman’s Crabgrass Preventer with Turf Food you have a little more flexibility in the timing. Apply by the end of May for best results.
The best time to treat dandelions is in the late summer and fall as they are storing nutrients for the winter, but if you cannot wait, treat them now while they are in bloom or have just finished blooming. Spray dandelions with a broadleaf weedkiller containing 2,4-D such as Bonide Weed Beater Lawn Weed Killer. It is
available in ready-to-use and concentrate forms. Another option is
Ortho Weed-B-Gon Max in a ready-to-use spray. And remember, the best defense against lawn weeds is a thick healthy turf.
Mow your lawn to a height of 2 1/2-3”, water deeply when needed, and fertilize appropriately. See our care sheet ‘Lawn Care Calendar’ for tips and suggestions.
Snap Beans aka Green Beans
Now that it is mid-May, it is time to get those snap
bean seeds in the ground. And pods are not just
green; there are yellow, purple and striped pods
too. No matter what the color, beans are so easy to
grow from seed. All you need is a sunny area with
a well-drained soil. Make sure the soil has warmed
because bean seeds planted in cold soil will just rot or have poor
germination. Pole beans grow to about 6’ and will need support. Put in a
trellis at planting time. The vines can produce beans all summer, but may not
set fruit if the weather gets extremely hot.
Bush beans grow to about 2’ and
will support each other. Bush beans produce most of their crop over a shorter period. Many gardeners plant bush beans every couple of weeks for continuous production into the fall. Because of the concentrated harvest time, bush beans are often used for canning and freezing. Follow the directions on the seed
packet for planting depth and spacing. Sprinkle a granular garden fertilizer
about 6” from the plants when you notice the first bean pods forming. Keep
the soil moist and mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Harvest when
the beans inside the pod are just becoming apparent and pods are still
succulent. For the best taste and quality, harvest just before use.
Lawn and Garden Tips
Apply pre-emergent crabgrass preventer to your lawn. Water after
application if rain is not in the forecast.
Continue planting cool season vegetable seeds such as lettuces, spinach,
and peas. Start melon and pumpkin seeds inside and transplant
outside at the end of May.
Prune spring flowering shrubs (forsythia, lilac, azalea, rhododendron, etc.)
after bloom.
Check mugo, Austrian, Scotch and red pines for European Sawfly larvae.
These small, dark-green caterpillar-like insects feed on the needles. Wash
them off with the hose, squish them, or use insecticidal soap.
Check plants daily over the next few weeks.
Fertilize spring blooming bulbs as flowers fade. Remove spent flowers.
Allow foliage to yellow and dieback.
Frost is still a possibility. Cover tender plants with a sheet or box to protect them.
Many tropical plants can be outside now, but bring indoors at night
until nighttime temperatures are consistently in the 50s.
Transplant overgrown houseplants into
a larger container. Select a pot with a 2”
larger diameter. Make sure the pot has
a drainage hole. Be sure to use potting
soil, not a garden or topsoil.
Flowers and gifts from Bachman’s make any day a special one. When you order your flowers or gifts online, you know you’ll be getting a beautiful fresh floral arrangement from a trusted florist known for outstanding floral design, plus quality and service.
If you’re sending flowers or gifts out of town, you can rely on us to choose the best florist from either the FTD or Teleflora nationwide flower network. Florists who can be counted on to deliver the best fresh floral arrangements and gifts, even when doing a same day delivery.
