May 2010 Gardening to do list for Calgary zone 3

I know, I know, it seems like winter will never end, but I've come up with a new season: sprinter!  May is the month of sprinter.  And although I don't even want to think about working outside today, I am already compiling and prioritizing my May to-do list.  I always say that whatever you get done in May will pay off for the rest of the year - it's a great time to move plants, to get new plants planted, to top up mulch, to get on top of the weeds etc etc etc.  Here's what I'm planning to do this month, more or less in order of priority:

Move existing plants:

There are a few minor changes I want to make to the existing plants in my garden.  I generally try to minimize this because generally the plants will be happier if left alone (unless of course, I'm moving them because they are not happy where they are, which is sometimes the case but not this year.)  Plants that are already growing in the garden can be moved at any time this month (once the snow is gone.)

Weed:

This will be ongoing in May, and will result in fewer weeds for the rest of the season.  I know this doesn't sound fun, but May is the time to get rid of perennial weeds in the garden.  Grass, dandelions, etc. are already growing and are easy to to see and get rid of while the other plants are still small.  At the very least, get in the habit of pulling the tops off weeds (both annual and perennial) before they go to seed so at least they don't make more.  I can't emphasize this enough if you want a low-maintenance garden - don't let the weeds set seed!

Mulch:

I recommend mulching to everyone else and I haven't actually done much of it myself, except top-dressing with compost as often as I have time.  One of the reasons I have resisted putting bark mulch down is that it is messier to add compost each year (rake the mulch off, apply compost, put mulch back on?  I don't need that!)  But it's time to take my own advice.  This spring I have to finish topdressing the garden with compost first (I did the front gardens last fall but I never have enough homemade compost myself so I'll be buying some and finishing the back gardens this spring).  Then I'm adding shredded bark mulch to several garden areas .... but not to all.  There, I sait it.  I admit it, I am a little worried about slugs in certain areas of my garden.  Bark mulch will encourage slugs.  So I'm going to add bark mulch to the sunnier, more exposed areas of the garden, that will definitely benefit from the mulch's ability to preserve moisture and keep down weeds.  But I'm not adding bark mulch in the shady, moist areas because I already have a slug problem there.  (stupid formatting, I can't get this section to unbold)

Harden off seedlings and new plants:

On warm days (whenever that will be!), begin hardening off new plants by putting them outside in a sheltered, shady area.  Gradually put them in more sunshine and eventually leave them out all night if frost is not predicted.  This will prevent them from experiencing shock due to more sun, cold or wind (or snow...?) than they are used to.

Spring lawn care:

Have the lawn aerated.  I am still debating whether or not I'm going to bother.  This will be my first season without a dog so perhaps it is time to try to start improving the lawn, but I also have 3 little kids and I also just don't really care that much about my lawn!  It would be nice to have one slightly nicer that the hard-packed, thin lawn I currently have, though.  Other things to do include top dressing with a thin layer of compost, and/or adding corn gluten meal for a slow-release fertilizer and to prevent the germination of weed seeds (note- don't add corn gluten meal if you are over-seeding your lawn - it prevents the germination of all seeds!)

Plant vegetable seeds outside:

according to schedule (see when to plant vegetable seeds in Calgary.)

Plant out annuals. 

I know the conventional wisdom is to wait until our average last frost date, May 24.  But that date is an average!  That means about half the time the last frost date will be earlier!  I like to get the most of my annuals in before May 24 - I put most of them in pots anyway so they are easy to move or cover if frost threatens.  Whatever happens, I have at least obtained all the plants I want before May long week-end so I can avoid the shopping rush.  I also like frost-tolerant annuals such as pansies and snapdragons because they can be put in the garden several weeks before the last frost date.

Happy sprinter!

From the archives:
How to plant annuals: pack 'em in!
How to plant perennials
How to redesign a perennial bed

Comments

[Christine B.]

I think you Calgary lot are about a week ahead of us. Our last frost date is the last day of May. Like I'm going to wait that long;) I already picked up my giant (to me anyway) potted Phormium specimen and the nursery attendant gently scolded me for getting it from the greenhouse too early. I said I'd take my chances and the Phormium was tough. I can see the garden powers that be blowing a snowstorm in my way for writing that....

Did the bark mulch thing and it really made the garden look more finished for tours. For some reason exposed soil catches my eye more than the bark mulch. I only use compost as a soil additive and not a top dressing because I don't have enough of it, so I don't have the bark/compost dilemma.

I think this is the year (even though two little ones roam about) that the lawn needs some improvement. At least me making an effort to level out the low spots so no one twists an ankle.

Christine in Alaska

[Janice Miller-Young]

Youre right - you could probably sprain an ankle on my lawn, too!