Plant Man answers questions

Steve Kawaratani

” -- herbs and trees bring forth fruit and flourish in May ...”

-- SIR THOMAS MALLORY

“Hard is the heart that loveth nought in May.”

-- CHAUCER

May has always been a great month ... the first week of May was

traditionally observed in England with dancing around the Maypole, a

celebration that originated from the fertility festival of Flora,

Roman goddess of spring.

Then came Mother’s Day celebrations, and now there is Catharine’s

Day (my wife’s birthday) and Memorial Day, which marks the beginning

of summer. Even the former Soviet Union named May Day as a holiday,

dedicated to its ever suffering workers.

The past week of summer-like weather reminds us that there will be

little or no rain during the next five months. Don’t forget to water

your garden thoroughly, on an as-needed basis. Mulch plants to reduce

the need for excess watering and don’t forget to be on the lookout

for insect pests and diseases.

Your questions to the Plant Man for May included:

Question: My winter color is fading fast. What should I plant now?

Answer: Early-flowering annuals like pansies, snapdragons and

primroses are now finishing their blooming period and should be

replaced with others. Petunias, marigolds, dahlias and geraniums are

good choices for the expected warmer temperatures. Don’t forget to

remove the tip bud to encourage bushy growth.

Q: I only live in Laguna during the weekends. What can I plant on

my west-facing deck?

A: Cacti and succulents are often excellent potted plants. Their

water requirements and care are somewhat less than for many other

plants, and will survive on weekly watering.

Q: Hello. Do I need to do anything special for my lawn?

A: Lawns need regular mowing. Remember to set the mower higher as

the season becomes warmer. Your lawn will respond favorably to

regular applications of fertilizer throughout the summer. Scotts Turf

builder or Best Turf Supreme are good choices.

Q: Plant man, what can I do to keep mildew off my roses this year?

A: Overcast weather contributes to the mildew found on roses. You

can’t control the weather, so your options are to spray fungicides

for control, ignore the problem or move farther inland. Good cultural

practices such as avoiding excessive moisture on leaves during

watering, removing badly diseased leaves and not stressing plants

will go a long way in keeping the problem to a minimum.

Q: My son’s avocado seedling has developed fruit. Will it be good?

A: All varieties of avocado originated from a seed; however, for

reliability and taste, only grafted plants are sold at nurseries.

There is a chance that the fruit will be edible.

Q: My lemon is full of fruit, but it is losing it leaves. What’s

happening?

A: A very heavy crop of fruit will often cause a lemon to lose

much of its foliage. Application of a commercial citrus food should

help the plant recover its leaves.

Q: My oleander hedge is dying? Can I save it?

A: Not likely. Many oleanders have been infested with bacterial

scorch from a leafhoppers and the prognosis is grim. Cutting the

plant back severely may create new, sucker growth. Ultimately, the

plants will have to be removed.

One has to love May, the month that bids farewell to spring and is

the precursor to summer. I would be remiss, however, if the Battle of

Puebla wasn’t mentioned as a May event. After all, Cinco de Mayo is

as raucously enjoyed by gringos as it is celebrated by Mexican

communities in Latin America and Mexican-American communities in the

United States. Any excuse for a holiday is fine with me! See you next

time.

* STEVE KAWARATANI is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery,

1278 Glenneyre in Laguna Beach. He is married to local artist,

Catharine Cooper, and has two cats. He can be reached at (949)

497-2438, or e-mail to alndscapes@ln.coxatwork.com.