General Gardening Tips:


• May is a great time to plant! When planting, we recommend using Super Fine Soil Conditioner and Barretta Starter Plant Food.

• Plants and trees that provide color in the month of May include azaleas, Kousa dogwoods, Japanese snowbell, fringe tree, spirea, sweetbay magnolias, weigelia, oakleaf hydrangeas, rhododendrons and viburnum. Visit the nursery and see these beautiful plants in bloom.

• It's a great time to plant annuals, perennials and all trees and shrubs. Barretta has many beautiful annuals to choose from, including geraniums, impatiens, marigolds, petunias, vinca and many other plants. Perennials that provide interest in the month of May include peonies, salvia, poppies, columbine, coral bells, foam flower and much more.

• We recommend fertilizing annuals, perennials and flowering shrubs and trees with Barretta Flowering Plant Food. This custom blended plant food contains slow-release nitrogen, sulfate of potash, iron and other micro-nutrients for overall plant growth and development.

• We recommend feeding all your evergreens (hollies, boxwoods and yews) and deciduous trees (maples, oaks and ash) with Barretta Tree & Shrub Food. This product contains slow-release nitrogen, sulfate of potash, iron and other micro-nutrients for overall plant growth and development.

• Time to plant tuberous begonias, gladiolus and canna bulbs directly into the soil.

• Apply Preen, Amaze or CGM to garden beds to prevent weeds from germinating.

• Plant colorful annuals and perennials to hide fading bulb foliage.


Pest Controls:

• Various pest problems can occur in May. If you have plants that you suspect may be facing a pest problem, bring in a representative sample to our plant clinic at either of our stores and speak with one of our plant specialists. We will diagnose the problem and recommend the appropriate control. Listed below are some of the problems that can appear this month along with the proper controls.

• If necessary, treat dogwoods for borers with either Thiodan or Borer Spray.

• If necessary, treat boxwood for leaf minor and psyllid with Isotox or Cygon.

• To treat hemlock woolly adelgid, Azalea Lacebug and other pests use Merit for season long control.

• To control deer foraging on your landscape plants, try the following: Bobbex, Milorganite and/or Deer Away.

• To control rabbits and other animals that are getting into your garden, try a repellent such as Dried Blood or Liquid Rence, which is labeled for that particular pest.

• Fruit trees should be on a regular spray program. See our Fruit Tree Spray Program bulletin.

Barretta Garden Center has free informational bulletins on the following pest problems, with specific control recommendations.

• Bagworms
• Borers
• Gypsy Moths
• Lacebugs
• Scale
• Spider Mites
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
• Caterpillars
• Japanese Beetles
• And more


Fruit and Vegetable Gardens:

• Time to plant apple, pear, peach and all other fruit trees. Fruit trees require two different varieties to pollinate properly. Be aware of this and ask one of our nursery professionals to guide you in selecting varieties.

• Fruit trees need to be sprayed on a regular schedule, although you do not spray your fruit trees when the blossoms are wide open.

• Time to plant strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Barretta Garden Center has these plants in stock, along with information on how to plant and care for them. Visit the nursery and discover these interesting edible plants.

• Time to plant the following vegetables outdoors: beans, corn, cucumber, eggplant, melons, peppers, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes.

• Fertilize fruits and vegetables with a good quality, slow-release vegetable food such as Barretta Flowering Plant Food or Osmocote.

• Barretta Garden Center has free informational bulletins on many different types of vegetables as well as general gardening topics.


Lawns:

• If you haven't fed your lawn this spring, fertilize now with Barretta Premium 26-4-12.

• Time to apply a grub control such as Merit or Dylox to the lawn if necessary. You need to water these products in thoroughly to effectively treat the grubs.

• Time to apply a weed control to the lawn, if necessary, to kill actively growing weeds. Use Bonide Lawn Weed Beater or Ortho Weed B Gone.

Tips on applying weed killer: 

• Do not apply weed controls on newly seeded areas.
• Do not apply weed controls on windy days.
• Do not apply weed controls near or on the edge of waterways.
• Do not allow children or pets to play on lawns freshly applied with weed controls. It is best to wait one week.
• Always follow the label directions.


House Plants:

• Once the fear of frost is over, you can move houseplants outside to the deck or patio and enjoy them outdoors for the summer. It is best to gradually introduce them to more direct sunlight to prevent the leaves from being burned.

• Feed houseplants with a good quality indoor plant food such as Jack's Classic (water-soluble powder) or Osmocote (slow-release granular).

• If needed, re-pot root bound houseplants to a larger pot. Barretta stocks a full line of containers, including terra cotta, wood, concrete, ceramic and plastic. Use Barretta Potting Mix when repotting houseplants.


Additional Information:

For more information to help you garden more easily and successfully, stop in the garden center and pick-up a copy of the following bulletins:

• Spring Lawn Care
• Crabgrass Control
• Grub Control
• Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas and many other plant varieties
• Shade Gardening
• Perennial Information Sheets
• Clematis
• Butterfly Gardens, Cutting Gardens & Hummingbirds
• Fruit Tree Spray Program
• Preparing Vegetable or Flower Beds
• Pest Appearance Timetable
• Proper Planting Instructions


May Reminders:

• Treat mom to a beautiful plant from Barretta Garden Center for Mother's Day.

• We have thousands of beautiful annuals in stock. However, listen to the weatherman through early May and if there is a frost warning, be sure to cover these tender plants with a sheet, towel or frost cloth (NOT PLASTIC).

• Spruce up your Memorial Day picnic with beautiful color from Barretta's excellent selection of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs.