Plant fruits and vegetables now

By Bob Leadford
Garvin County OSU Extension Specialist

April 29, 2006 03:19 pm

— Consumer Horticulturist David Hillock gives us garden tips for the month of May.
Lawns
Cool-season lawns can be fertilized again. If you did not fertilize cool-season grasses in March and April, do so now. Warm-season lawns may be fertilized again in May. (F-6420)
Seeding of warm-season grasses such as bermudagrass, buffalograss, and zoysiagrass is best performed in mid-May through the end of June. The soil temperatures are warm enough for germination and adequate growing season is present to promote winter hardiness.
Dollar spot disease of lawns can first become visible in mid-May. Make certain fertilizer applications have been adequate before ever applying a fungicide. (F-7658)
Nutsedge plants become visible during this month. Post-emergent treatments are best applied for the first time this month (F-6421). Make certain warm-season grasses have completed green-up.
The second application of pre-emergent annual grass herbicides can be applied in late-May or early June, depending upon timing of first application (F-6421). Check label for details.
Landscape Plants
Annual bedding plants can be set out for summer color. Plant summer bulbs such as cannas, dahlias, elephant ear, caladiums and gladiolus. Insect Alert: (F-7306) Bagworms on juniper and arborvitae. (Late May) Elm leaf beetles and larvae on elms. (Late May) Mimosa webworms on mimosa and honeylocust. Lace bugs on sycamore, pyracantha and azalea. Spider mites.
Fruits
Plant watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, okra, sweet potatoes, etc. Fruit spray programs should be faithfully continued during the next several weeks. (F 6235)
The following fact sheets contain information on the topics mentioned. You can access OSU Extension publications via the web by visiting our web site at http://countyext.okstate.edu/garvin and clicking on “Fact Sheet Library.”
You may also obtain a copy from the Garvin County Extension Office, 201 W. Grant, Room 7, Courthouse, Pauls Valley, OK.
F-6235 Home Fruit Spray Schedule (not available online)
F-6420: Lawn Management in Oklahoma
F-6421 Controlling Weeds in Home Lawns
F-7306: Ornamental and Lawn Pest Control for Homeowners
F-7658 Dollar Spot of Turfgrass