Adair County
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ORNAMENTALS
All Month
- Pinch azaleas and rhododendron blossoms as they fade. Double flowered azaleas need no pinching.
- Fertilize azaleas after bloom. Use a formulation that has an acid reaction.
- Apples, crabapples and hawthorns susceptible to rust disease should have protective fungicidal sprays applied beginning when these trees bloom.
Week One
- Begin planting gladiolus bulbs as the ground warms. Continue at two-week intervals.
- Plant hardy water lilies in tubs or garden pools.
- Continue monitoring pines, especially scotch and mugo, for sawfly activity on new shoots.
Weeks 1-2
- Don’t remove spring bulb foliage prematurely or next year’s flower production will decline.
- Canker worms (inch worms) rarely cause permanent damage to ornamentals. Use B.T. if control is deemed necessary.
Week Two
- Begin planting warm-season annuals.
Weeks 2-3
- Plant summer bulbs such as caladiums, dahlias, cannas, and elephant ears.
Weeks 2-4
- Scale crawlers are active now. Infested pines and euonymus should be treated at this time.
Weeks 3-4
- Trees with a history of borer problems should receive their first spray now. Repeat twice at three-week intervals.
- Begin fertilizing annuals. Continue at regular intervals.
- Bulbs can be moved or divided as the foliage dies.
Week Four
- Pinch back mums to promote bushy growth.
VEGETABLES
All Month
- Slugs will hide during the daytime beneath a board placed over damp ground. Check each morning and destroy any slugs that have gathered on the underside of the board.
- Growing lettuce under screening materials will slow bolting and extend harvests into hot weather.
- Place cutworm collars around young transplants. Collars are easily made from cardboard strips.
Week One
- Set out tomato plants as soils warm. Place support stakes alongside at planting time.
- Isolate sweet, super sweet and popcorn varieties to prevent crossing.
- Keep asparagus harvested for continued spear production. Control asparagus beetles as needed.
- Thin plantings of carrots and beets to avoid overcrowding.
- Control caterpillars on broccoli and cabbage plants by handpicking or use biological sprays such as B.T.
Weeks 1-2
- Plant dill to use when making pickles.
Weeks 2-3
- Remove rhubarb seeds stalks as they appear.
Week Two
- Watch for striped and spotted cucumber beetles now. Both may spread wilt and mosaic diseases to squash and cucumber plants.
Weeks 3-4
- Set out peppers and eggplants after soils have warmed.
- Plant sweet potatoes now.
Week Four
- Make new sowings of warm-season vegetables after harvesting early crops.
FRUITS
All Month
- Mulch blueberries with pine needles or sawdust.
Week One
- Don’t spray any fruits while in bloom. Refer to local Extension publications for fruit spray schedule.
TURFGRASS
All Month
- Keep bluegrass cut at 1.5 to 2.5 inch height.
- Mow tall fescues at 2 to 3.5 inch height.
Weeks 2-4
- Apply post-emergence broadleaf weed controls now if needed.
Week Four
- Watch for sod webworms emerging now.
-MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN-
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University of Missouri Extension |
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