May

From May Day to Mother’s Day, May is the month for flowers, flowers, flowers! Big vines of sweet, scented Wisteria, roses budding on long thin stems, and Snapdragons that charm the children when they pinch the mouth open!

Some of my favorites are the California natives that are working their magic on the soil and nourishing our bees and butterflies, while they enchant us with their incredible beauty. Some of the standouts in May include Ceanothus with its electric blue blossoms, the California poppy that seems to glow with its vibrant orange, and Hummingbird sage that brings in our precious Hummers.

The month of May is also an important time for the vegetable gardener. It’s finally warm enough to transplants any starts that haven’t yet made it into the ground – tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, etc. are ready for the soil that should be nearing the necessary 60-degree mark. If you’re one of the brave souls that plants seeds, it’s now warm enough to directly sow them outside (no need for grow lights or warming pads!). This is probably your last chance to get in one last round of cool weather veggies, so jump on those if you’re so inclined.

Whether you’re going for veggies or flowers (or both!), now is the time to give serious consideration to your garden’s irrigation requirements. Now is the time to add a good compost to the soil, or dress it with a nice mulch, both of which will help your soil retain moisture and keep it cooler during the hot months to come. If your garden has an irrigation system, now is the time to do a careful assessment of how well it works. Irrigation is intended to water our plants, but it is also an important means of water conservation. The hiccup in this logic is that a broken or poorly functioning irrigation system can both damage the plants and waste tremendous amounts of water.

If you have questions about your system, call in a professional – you and your plants will be glad you did.

Call me at 707.753.1445 for your free 30-minute consultation.