Racing to plant those tomatoes?
May and the Kentucky Derby can only mean one thing: it is tomato planting time!  The tradition throughout Kentucky of course is to plant your tomatoes plants on Derby Day, which is really a bit too early. May 10th is our first frost-free date for the year, signaling it’s time to plant all your warm-season vegetable crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and the list goes on and on. Some years the soil is still quite cool, so I prefer not to rush and the way this spring has been going so far, I don’t want to take a chance. 

What you can plant in a day
May showers bring spring flowers, or something like that, and it’s time to start thinking about planting annual flowers and container planting. I like to plant a few areas or containers at a time; this helps keep it fun and successful. How many times have your eyes been bigger than the time you had to spend in the garden and some of the plants you purchased had to sit around for a while before you could get them planted? The longer you have to hold them in their containers the more likely you are to forget to water them, so I encourage everyone to purchase only what you can plant in a day or on the weekend. There are lots and lots of plants out there to choose from and if on the odd chance you can’t find your favorite something, it is an opportunity to break out of a rut and try something new for a change.

Dress up for Derby
Mulching is always a popular springtime chore. You can actually mulch anytime but the desire to have the garden perfect for Derby Day or Memorial Day parties gets everyone in the mood to mulch. I often find that we are putting down more mulch than is necessary. If it appears you have a good 2- to 3-inch layer you are fine and there is no need to add more. You can fluff your existing mulch up a little with a light rake or with your hands if this makes it look fresher for you. If you have less than 2 inches you may choose to add more to help with water retention and maximum weed suppression. More than 4 inches is considered detrimental to your plantings so don’t buy and apply more mulch if you don’t really need it. As a landscape designer I always recommend choosing the same kind of mulch each time you need more for consistency, and pick a neutral color. The plants should be the first thing we see, not the mulch.

Start your engines!
As mowing season kicks into high gear you may want to mow your lawn twice a week. Excellent growing conditions can make lawn grasses grow overnight and frequent mowing is the key for our cool-season fescue lawns to keep them looking their best and discourage weed seed germination and growth. The best weed control for your lawn is an actively growing healthy lawn that is mown frequently with a mower that is set high at a 3” cutting height and has a freshly sharpened blade.

Stop and smell the roses…