May's the month for gardening

Flowers, vegetables and lawns are entering their maximum growing months and backyard gardeners can do much in May to help them thrive, say experts at Agromin, a Camarillobased manufacturer of premium soil products.

•Aerate and dethatch warm season lawns: Warm season lawns including Bermuda grass and St. Augustine need a once-over during May. Aerate and dethatch these lawns so water can easily penetrate to the roots. Apply a light layer of lawn topping or mulch to keep in moisture and reduce water usage.

•Rose bushes need attention: Remove older flowers by cutting back to the first leaf in a five-leaflet cluster. Some roses, including floribundas and shrub roses, bloom in clusters so gently reshape the rose bushes after blooms fade. This will keep the bushes fill and stimulate new flower growth.

•Plant perennials and summer annuals: May is a good time to plant perennial flowers including salvia, coreopsis and delphiniums. It's also a good time to plant summer annuals such as zinnias, cosmos and marigolds from seeds or plant packs.

•Plant more vegetables and herbs: In cooler areas, gardeners can still plant lettuce, carrots and radishes. In warmer areas, May is the time to plant warm season vegetables such as watermelon, sunflower, squash, corn, cantaloupe and beans. Basil, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and thyme should also be planted in May.

•Consider California wildflowers: California wildflowers use less water than most nonnative plants, are easy to grow with minimum care and can last for decades. For example, plant Bacchanalia on a sunny, warm, south-facing slope or an exposed flat area and watch it fill the space. Other California wildflowers that make good ground cover, borders, or stand-alone or cascading plants include penstemons, buckwheat, lupine, Creeping Mountain lilac, California poppy, evening primrose, golden yarrow and verbena.

For more planting and gardening tips, visit www.agromin.com.