April showers make a merry month of May

STEVE KAWARATANI

“April is a promise that May is bound to keep...”

--Hal Borland

“Follow with May’s fairest flowers.”

--Percy Bysshe Shelley

The mainly sunny second half of April was a gardener’s dream ...

and the first days of May promise more of the same. The time spent in

the garden last month (check out Eve’s garden) will come to fruition

with the fair flowers of May. And fair your garden must look -- after

all, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day are celebrated best at home.

Cherish the memory of those recent showers ... expect little or no

rain during the next five months. It is imperative to water your

garden thoroughly during May, on an as-needed basis. Mulch plants to

reduce the need for water and be on the lookout for insect pests and

diseases. Your questions to the Plant Man included ...

Q. What is the origin of May Day?

A. May Day originated from the fertility festival of Flora, Roman

goddess of spring. It was traditionally observed in England with

dancing around the Maypole.

Q. My gift cyclamen has finished blooming. Now what?

A. Cyclamen are best grown outdoors. Keep it in a cool, filtered

sun area. Leaves will turn yellow if conditions become too warm.

During the fall, gradually withhold water until the plant becomes

dormant. Store the pot in the garage and bring it back out in the

early spring. With warmer weather and water, it will return with

splendid flowers.

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 weather warms. Your lawn will respond favorably to monthly

applications of fertilizer throughout the summer. Scotts Turf Builder

or Best Turf Supreme are good choices.

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

A. Early-flowering annuals like pansies, snapdragons, and

primroses are now finishing their blooming period and should be

replaced with others. Petunia, marigold, delphinium, and geranium are

good choices for the expected spring weather. Don’t forget to remove

the tip bud to encourage bushy growth.

Q. Plantman, what do you know about Mother’s Day?

A. Anna May Jarvis conceived the idea of an annual day to honor

mothers after attending a memorial service for her mother. She

inspired President Wilson to proclaim the first national Mother’s Day

in 1913. The second Sunday in May has become the biggest business day

of the year for U.S. restaurants and florists.

Q. Mr. Plantman, how do I get rid of scale on my indoor palm?

A. Scale is a difficult pest to overcome. I generally recommend

moving the plant outdoors and using a combination of Ultra Fine

horticultural oil and Malathion. If it is impossible to move the

plant, repeated usage of an indoor plant insecticide may eventually

work. Don’t let this one get out of control and remember to spray the

underside of the fronds.

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 further 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.

May is a busy month ... After running around the Maypole with

Catharine, we celebrated Cinco de Mayo in Los Angeles. Mother’s Day

plans are at our home and Catharine’s Day is set for the 26th (which

is also her mom’s birthday). The Dodgers will be back in town and

that means my mother, Claudia, and Jeanine will be treating me to

some tube steaks (catsup and onions, hold the mustard) at the

stadium. Whew, I’m glad I got a lot of gardening done in April ...

See you next time.

* STEVE KAWARATANI is happily married to local writer Catharine

Cooper, and has two cats. He can be reached at (949) 497-2438, or

send e-mail to landscapes@ln. coxatwork.com.