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___ If you are on the ProScape Fertilization and Weed Prevention Program for Bermuda and Zoysia it is now time for Application # 2. Fertilize Bermuda and Zoysia lawns the mid to latter part of April to mid-May with ProScape 20-4-10 Lawn Fertilizer with Barricade Pre-emergent Weed Preventer to feed and prevent the emergence of warm season weeds. If not on the program there's no better time to start than now! Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of fertilizer necessary for adequate coverage. To determine total square footage multiply length x width of lawn area(s). If weeds are present in your bermuda or zoyia lawn spot-spray them with Hi-Yield Lawn Weed Killer.

___ May is great time to plant perennials. Hundreds of varieties of perennials are pouring in to nursery on a day to day basis throughout the month of May. Perennials come back year after year and can be used mixed together in various types of perennial gardens or to add vibrant splashes of color throughout your landscape. For example, Stella De Oro Daylily, which blooms an abundance of it's large golden-yellow trumpet flowers for up to 5 months, can be planted as a border or in mass on slopes for erosion control. The flower and foliage colors and textures of perennials are endless. There are perennials for attracting butterflies such as Miss Huff's Hardy Lantana, and others such as Madame Galen Trumpet Vine that attract and feed hummingbirds. There are other perennials suited for various situations such as shade or sun, dry or moist, and even ones such as Bog Salvia that actually actually run off deer! Visit All About Perennials

___ If you haven't done so yet, apply Bayer Systemic Insect Control around the root systems of Crape Myrtles, Azaleas, Roses, Flowering Fruit Trees, Junipers, and various other types of trees and shrubs. One application of Bayer around the root systems of plants controls damaging insects for the entire year by feeding through the root systems and up into the leaves.

___ Fertilize your Centipede or St. Augustine lawn now. Fertilize this time of year with Pennington 18-0-18 which contains 3% iron for deep. If many weeds are present it might be necessary to use Pennington 18-0-18 Centipede Weed & Feed with Atrazine. If only a few weeds are present it is best to spot-spray them with liquid Atrazine Weed Killer. ***CAUTION: Only use products that contain Atrazine for killing existing weeds in Centipede or St. Augustine Lawns. Other lawn weed killers contain 2-4D which can cause injury to Centipede and St. Augustine grasses. (Note: Always use a broadcast spreader and not a drop spreader to spread lawn fertilizers. (Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of fertilizer necessary for adequate coverage. Measure length x width of area(s) to be covered for total square footage) SEE Maintaining a Centipede or St. Augustine Lawn

___ Plant annual flowerbeds and container plantings to add splashes of vibrant color and texture to your landscape. May is an excellent time to plant annuals. To refurbish existing flower beds till or turn in a 1/2 inch coat of ClayCutter Organic Soil Ammendment. SEE: How to Prepare a Flowerbed To learn more about annual flowers visit All About Annual Flowers. To learn more about growing annuals or other plants in containers/pots visit All About Container Gardening. After planting a flowerbed fertilize annuals with Color Burst or another good flower food that contains extra phosphorus (the middle number in fertilizer). Fertilize again every 4-6 weeks to sustain heavy flower production and optimum performance. You will also want to broadcast Treflan Granules over your newly planted flower bed to control weeds for the entire season!

___ Fertilize Fescue lawns now if you did not do so in April. We recommend broadcasting 27-4-6 ProTurf Slow-Release Lawn Food for summer long feeding. (Note: Always use a broadcast spreader and not a drop spreader to spread fertilizers.) (Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of fertilizer necessary for adequate coverage. Measure length x width of area(s) to be covered for total square footage) SEE: Maintaining a Fescue Lawn

___ Apply pelletized lime at this time to Fescue, Bermuda, and Zoysia lawns. If you have never applied lime to your lawn a one-time application of 40 lbs per 500 -1,000 square feet usually corrects soil ph to a level sufficient for these grasses to thrive and fertilizers applied to activate. NOTE: Make sure to use pellitized lime as it activates instantly. (Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of lime necessary for adequate coverage. Measure length x width of area(s) to be covered for total square footage) SEE Maintaining a Bermuda or Zoysia Lawn or Maintaining a Fescue Lawn

___ You may now plant Centipede or Bermuda Lawns from seed or sod. When planting a Bermuda lawn from seed make sure to use turf-type Bermuda seed as common bermuda is best suited as a pasture grass. Panama Bermuda is a new genetically advanced Bermuda seed which displays excellent overall turf quality. The very dense and dark green turf is as good if not better than Tift 419 Bermuda sod grown by sod farms. Why plant sod at 8 to 10 times the cost when you can get the same results by seeding with Panama? For information on planting your lawn from seed see Planting a Lawn (Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of seed required for adequate coverage. Measure length x width of area(s) to be covered for total square footage)

___ Fertilize perennials with Color Burst or another good bloom boosting fertilizer. For information on growing and caring for a perennial garden visit All About Perennials

___ Fertilize Roses if you haven't done so within the last six weeks. An application every 6 weeks or so of Fertilome Rose Food with Systemic Insecticide will keep those pesty insects away throughout the invasion season. To find information on grwoing and caring for Roses visit All About Roses - featuring Gary Mueller, Henry County's own award winning Rose expert.

___ May is a great time to plant a vegetable garden. If you are interested in growing a vegetable garden this year and would like more information and tips for doing so, visit Planting a Vegetable Garden or All About Organic Gardening. A few tips: Fertilize vegetables in the garden with organic compost or 5-10-15. Side-dress rows of corn with Ammonium Nitrate when the stalks reach knee-high. Plant your vegetable garden in a sunny location.Build raised beds or mounds to grow vegetables most successfully.

___ Check plants such as azaleas and roses for insects and treat if necessary. Don't forget to look on the underside of leaves as aphids, lacebugs, and other pesty critters like to hang out there during the day. If you haven't done so yet apply Bayer Systemic Insecticide around the root systems of Crape Myrtles, Azaleas, Roses, Flowering Fruit Trees, and various other types of trees and shrubs of concern. An inexpensive one-time application of Bayer feeds through the root systems of plants and up into the leaves to control damaging insects for up to one year!

___ If you would like to have a landscape design drawn for all or part of your property now is a good time. Call the nursery to to set up a free appointment. 770-954-9862 or CLICK HERE for more information.