Almost all vegetables and flowers will grow well when planted in May, so even novice gardeners will experience success. This is especially true in Southern California, where the weather is perfect for spring gardens.
Plant warm season flowers: Some flowers just grow best when the weather (and the soil) is warm. These annuals are at their best through August, so plant them in May for four vibrantly colored months. They include begonia, chrysanthemum, geranium, calendula, petunia, and verbena. For year-round flowers, plant perennials like African daisy, delphinium, fuchsia, lavender, sage, and coreopsis.
Smart water: Let the weather be your guide when watering. However, as a rule, it is better to water more and less often than to water a few minutes a day. This encourages the roots of the plants to strengthen as they go deeper into the soil in search of moisture. Water the soil around your flowers and vegetable plants, not the plants themselves. Watering from the root can lead to disease and fungi.
Add fragrance to your flower garden: Colorful flowers are just one part of an attractive garden. Fragrance is also important. Consider planting these fragrant shrubs this month: all kinds of dwarf citrus, gardenia, jasmine, and roses.
Experiment with vegetables: Most nurseries have the standard tomatoes, zucchini, and bell peppers available for planting, but this year try something different: sweet potatoes, okra, and even peanuts.
Wildflower plants: Native plants tend to be hardier and use less water than non-native plants. Wildflowers are used to being alone, with little care necessary. Sprinkle wildflower seeds in a bare or hard-to-reach spot and they’ll soon fill the space. Most wildflowers are annuals that will keep coming back year after year. You’ll find bundles of these California wildflowers in most nurseries: penstemon, buckwheat, lupine, creeping mountain lilac, California poppy, evening primrose, golden yarrow, and verbena.
Add a layer of organic mulch: Maintain a two to three inch layer of mulch in your flower and vegetable gardens. Mulch helps maintain cooler soil temperatures, retains moisture, allows roots to spread deeper into the soil, and suppresses weed growth. The mulch will eventually break down, adding nutrients to the soil.
Lawn maintenance time: The soil under the lawn compacts over time. If you are watering and the water runs off rather than soaking, it is time to aerate and remove the grass from the lawn so the water can easily penetrate to the roots. Apply a light coat of grass coverage to retain moisture and reduce water use.
