After digging out from a long winter, we can finally start working in the garden and yard! The Utah State University ExtensionGardener’s Almanac provides a checklist for each month as well as links to tips and further information. Consider these gardening tips for May.
Pests and Problems:
- Monitor newly planted vegetables for cutworm and flea beetle damage.
- Monitor for cankerworm damage on scrub oak and Box Elder trees along the foothills.
- Monitor for aphids on lush, new spring growth on plants. Treat for aphids by using “softer” solutions such as spraying them with a hard stream of water or by using an insecticidal soap.
- Monitor for slugs and snails. These pests thrive in moist, cool areas of the garden and landscape and feed on a variety of plant hosts.
- Protect ash trees from the lilac/ash borer around May first.
- Control codling moth in apples and pears to reduce wormy fruit. For specific timing, see our Utah Pests Advisories.
- Treat for powdery mildew on apples when leaves are emerging (at 1/2 inch green) until June.
- Watch for insect pests in raspberries from mid-May thru early June.
- Watch for cutworm damage in turfgrass and new vegetable starts.
- Monitor for damaging turfgrass insects. In areas previously damaged, consider a preventative (systemic) insecticide.
- Click here to subscribe to the Utah Pests IPM Advisories for timely tips on controlling pests in your yard and garden.
- Consider taking an online gardening course. Courses cover everything from container vegetable gardening and creating the perfect soil, to planting trees and controlling pests and are geared to both beginning and professional gardeners. Use the use promo code “Grow5” for $5 off a course!
Explore more gardening tips on Extension’s yard and garden website.
Click here to see a video of May gardening tips.