“While strolling through the park one day, in the merry, merry month of May …”

This song lyric was published in 1884 by Willis Woodward & Co. of New York and to this day can still put a pep in the step of Colorado gardeners. It’s finally time to get busy!

Early May

• Mugo pines might be the first pruning of the season. Pinch or cut out two-thirds the length of the “candles” of new growth. This pinch method can be used with other pines for shape control.

• Plant perennials, raspberries, potted roses, container grown, balled and burlap trees and landscape shrubs. Look for perennials marked “Plant Select” at the local nursery. These plants are grown for our region and will thrive in our challenging climate. If they are labeled drought tolerant, remember all new plants will require water until they are established.

Mid-May

• Thin seedlings of early planted crops such as carrots, lettuce, spinach and beets.

• Stake peonies and delphinium.

• After early spring bulbs have bloomed, remove the faded flowers. Don’t cut the leaves until they have yellowed as they provide energy for next year’s blooms.

• Starting now, feed roses a balanced rose food every six weeks during the growing season.

• Check containers and prepare for planting. If there was disease present last year, don’t reuse last year’s soil. Clean those containers with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.

• Depending on your location, start planting annuals. In many parts of Colorado Springs, mid-May is the time it’s safe to begin planting tender annuals. Check the weather forecast. It’s not unusual to have a hard freeze in late May.

• Begin planting gladiolus every two weeks through June for a continual series of blooms.

• If weather remains warm, transfer seedlings outside but harden them off in a sheltered location for a week before planting.

Late May

• Transplant tomatoes, setting the plants 1 inch deeper than in the pot.

• Plant corn, bean, pumpkin, squash, cucumber and early maturing melon seeds now if the soil is warm.

• Plant eggplant and pepper plants when the soil has reached at least 50 degrees.

• Prune early spring-flowering trees and shrubs such as lilacs and forsythia after flowers fade.

• Harvest asparagus stalks larger than three-eighths inch until about the end of June. Cut just at soil level.

• Plant annual seeds outdoors the last week of May. Some suggested flowers are zinnias, salvia and nasturtiums.

For vines, try Hyacinth Bean vine (Lablab purpureus), one of the Plant Select plants with striking purple flowers and deep purple seed pods.

Another good choice is morning glories. They have stunning, flowers and bloom until the first freeze.

‘Tis the time of year, the merry month of May, a gardener’s Shangri-La. Enjoy!

Submit gardening questions to [email protected] or call 719-520-7684. The in-person help desk is open 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at 17 N. Spruce St. Find us on Facebook at Colorado Master Gardeners – El Paso County.