Plants, plants and more PLANTS! Remember, "April showers bring May flowers?" Well, even though April was sunnier that rainy, May has finally arrived and the nursery is loaded with plants of every size, shape and description. The days are getting longer, the weather warming, and we're hitting that stride of the main planting season that we could only dream of in the cold, dreary days of January..."The Merry Month of May (and Mom — don't forget Mother's Day!)," indeed!
Perennials, Annuals and Vegetables
Annuals are plentiful now — for containers or borders, they provide a long season of bright to riotous color — they're hard to resist!
Resist the urge to cut down or tie up the foliage of tulips, daffodils and other early bulbs after they are finished blooming! The bulbs extract and store the nutrients from the leaves for next year's growth and bloom, so by cutting back too soon you risk next year's flowers, and by tying them up you decrease their ability to photosynthesize and create the food they need to store. Unsightly for a time, perhaps, but once the leaves are at least halfway died back they can be trimmed.
We still have lots of gladiolas, dahlias, iris, lilies, crocosmia, and much more in the way of summer-blooming bulbs, corms and tubers in stock.
Slugs... need we say more? We recommend using "Worry Free" granules to stop the damage from these garden pests (not harmful to pets and birds).
As if slugs were the only pests in the garden to think about... Aphids have started to emerge in increasing numbers (it must be spring!) Stop in for a visit at the nursery, and check out the many safe but effective products now on the market for dealing with these pests. And please note: holes in new leaves may not mean bugs — remember all that hail a couple weeks ago? Hail damage can sometimes look similar to pest damage, so be sure to check first — bring a sample to our information desk if you'd like a second opinion!
It is still a great time to dig up and divide those late-season perennials (move 'em and feed 'em); you're not too late!
Put in plant stakes, peony cages and other supports now, while the plants are still small and manageable. This year we have a line of green wire cages for peonies, tomatoes, and larger perennials — they'll disappear into your landscape more readily while keeping your plants standing tall.
When planting in containers, one efficient way to fertilize is to mix Osmocote time-released pellets into the potting soil, which will feed your plants throughout their growing cycle.
A tip when planting into terra cotta containers: Soak the terra cotta pot before planting. Why? If you don't, the dry terra cotta will pull all the moisture from your soil and you will have to watch your watering all the more carefully so that the plant doesn't quickly dry out.
Time to be thinking of putting those hot-weather lovers like tomatoes, peppers and zinnias out in the garden. Still a little early during the first part of the month, to set them out unprotected from our cool spring nights; but using "Wall O' Water," hot caps or cold frames will boost the nighttime temperatures around the plant enough to keep them snug and safe in the garden.
Speaking of tomatoes, Portland Nursery will be offering more than 100 varieties of tomatoes this year! Heirlooms, slicers, paste, cherry and clusters, we will have tomatoes for gardens both big and small and for every taste and use. Not likely that we'll have all 100 varieties in stock at the same time, but we think you'll like our selection! Enjoy your favorites and try a new variety!
...And watch for our expanded selection of specialty and heirloom vegetables! We will have some truly unusually-named varieties this year: In tomatoes, there's "Banana Legs," "Mortgage Lifter," and "Pruden's Purple." In peppers, look for "De Arbol Tree Chili," and "Penguin Rat Turd." (Your guess is as good as ours on this one; we're curious to see it, too!) We will also have more heirloom varieties of eggplants, squash and cucumbers to choose from this year, too.
Succession plant seeds or starts of vegetables — especially greens and peas and beans — every 2-3 weeks to get a longer, more continual supply of fresh food from your garden. And take a look at the display of Asian Vegetable seeds from "New Dimension," a local seed company recently featured in The Oregonian. We think you may find some new favorites...
Don't forget that most vegetables and herbs can be grown in containers, too. This is especially helpful if you have limited space or sunny spots in your garden — and especially fun with kids. Make a "Pizza Planter," "Salsa Planter," "Salad Planter," "Snack Planter..." The possibilities are many, so have fun and good eating!
If you already have some early plants started from seed that you are ready to put out in the garden, be sure to harden them off in a cold frame, bright corner of an unheated basement or garage, or in a protected corner of the porch for a few days, first. Gradually getting them used to the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors is key to their success.
Lawn Care
Coming soon!
Trees, Shrubs and Fruit
Roses are budding up and getting ready to burst into bloom. They will want a feeding after that first bloom so be sure to have on hand a good fertilizer like the Rose & Flower Food by Whitney Farms. Watch out for black spot and powdery mildew — catch it before it sets in and treat your plants with one of our neem oil products, like Green Light Rose Defense.
Fertilize those early-spring-blooming trees and shrubs whose flowers are just about finished, while they are gathering nutrients to store up for next year's show, like Forsythias and Camellias. When done blooming, it is the perfect time to prune them too, before they set buds for next year's flowers.
If you deadhead Rhododendrons after they are finished blooming, it will increase the flower production for next year. Be careful however, the brand new leaves emerge right up alongside the spent blossom, so it's easy to also accidentally pinch off the new little leaves in the process!
Temperatures have finally risen enough that you can now apply beneficial nemetodes and go after those root weevils on your Rhododendrons, those fleas in your yard...
Have you noticed the increased activity? Birds are gathering material and nesting like crazy — PLEASE be careful and check trees and shrubs before doing spraying of any sort!
Indoor Plants
Wash the leaves of indoor plants and check/treat for pests and diseases. If you suspect you have a problem with a plant and are not sure what it is, bring a sample to our Info Desk. We carry a full line of safe products for houseplants and tropicals.
It's time to be feeding most indoor plants, as they actively put on growth. We have several types of indoor plant food, and recommend Whitney Farm's Ellie's liquid as a good all-around fertilizer. Give us a call if you have questions on feeding or care of specific indoor plants.
Start setting houseplants outside in a shady location for some fresh air. If you have any questions about particular plants and where they like to spend their spring and summer, feel free to call either of our locations (for houseplant questions, some members of our Division Street Staff are especially knowledgeable; that location has the broader selection of houseplants and tropicals and therefore the opportunity for more personal experience).
General Tips
New Product! Portland Nursery now offers lighting supplies for indoor gardening and seed starting by Sun Systems — and their catalog available for easy ordering of those more unusual items not on hand.
Clean out the pond, if you haven't already, and check your pump to make sure it is clean and in good working condition.
If your pond has water lilies that were sunk for winter protection, it is time to raise them back up closer to the surface and feed with water lily fertilizer tabs (available at the Division Street location).
We had been waiting for nighttime temperatures to rise a little more before bringing in water plants. Well, the wait is over — our Division Street store now has a good selection in stock. Time to refresh that pond!
Place mosquito dunks in your pond to keep mosquitos under control.
Beneficial insects — ladybugs, praying mantis — are starting to arrive. Other beneficial insects will again this year be available by special request. Come into the nursery to look at the list and discuss this option for pest control in your garden.
This is a GREAT month for plant sales, especially around Mother's Day. Watch the newspaper AND our website's calendar for notices about sales and events!
Plan(t) now for those summer parties and gatherings! (And yes, it is about time to start thinking about bringing the hammock out of storage and setting it up in your favorite shady spot!)
Even though it seems we won't be facing a water shortage this summer, wise water use and water conservation is a good idea at any time. It's good for the environment and the local watershed; and it is actually a good practice for the health of your plants, because it translates into a habit of more even watering, which is beneficial for their growth and stamina — not to mention the health of your summer water bills! We are stocked with a variety of soaker hoses and drip irrigation supplies, and ready to help you get started.
Here's a list for ways to more efficiently use water in your garden:
- Mulch
- Water deeply and less frequently, instead of often and shallowly.
- Water early in the day.
- Wherever you can, use soaker hoses or drip irrigation system.
- If you use sprinklers, don't set them so high that they give off a mist, which will just uselessly evaporate away.
Rain barrels are very popular this year, so come to the nursery and get yours (or give one as a gift for your water-wise friends and family).
Hosta 'Island Charm'
May Perennial Pick - Hostas
Read about Hostas
MAY TIPS - VIDEOS
CLICK PHOTO TO PLAY VIDEO. Videos will load automatically. Visit the GardenTime TV website for more GardenTime videos.
Planting Potatoes
Jan McNeilan's May Tips
Gardening with Cats
Herbal Teas
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