Show #139 - Early May Garden Care: Seedlings, Caterpillars, Lime, and Lawn Recovery

Early May brings explosive plant growth — and a wave of new garden challenges. Tree seedlings begin appearing everywhere, caterpillars emerge in large numbers, lawns need pest attention, and vegetable gardens move into full planting season. This episode focuses on solving these common spring problems while strengthening lawns, flowers, shrubs, and vegetables for the months ahead.

Tree Seedlings Are Everywhere Right Now

One of the biggest spring nuisances is the sudden appearance of tree seedlings in lawns and mulch beds.

Common offenders include:

maple seedlings
redbuds
oak seedlings
poplar seedlings

These volunteer trees spread aggressively through seed production.

Don’t Pull Them by Hand

Hand pulling can disturb soil and leave roots behind.

Recommended spray mix:

2 oz Fertilome Weed Free Zone
1 oz Wilt-Pruf
1 gallon hot water

Wilt-Pruf helps the spray adhere completely to the foliage for better control.

How to Spray Weeds Safely Around Plants

When weeds are growing close to desirable plants, drift protection becomes critical.

A simple trick:

place a Styrofoam cup over the spray tip

This allows:

spot spraying
precise targeting
protection of nearby flowers and shrubs

Especially useful in tight mulch beds and foundation plantings.

Why Some Weeds Are Harder to Kill

Certain weeds naturally resist many herbicides because of thick waxy coatings.

Examples include:

clover
violets
wild garlic
wild onions

Weed Free Zone works especially well because it is an ester-based herbicide, allowing it to penetrate waxy foliage more effectively than many common weed killers.

Tent Caterpillars Are Active Now

Tent caterpillars are building nests in cherry trees and other ornamentals.

These web-like nests appear in branch crotches and expand quickly.

Best treatment timing:

early morning
late afternoon or evening

That’s when caterpillars are inside the nest.

Best Caterpillar Control

Recommended treatment:

Monterey Spinosad

This is one of the most effective caterpillar controls available and works well on many chewing insects.

May Is Caterpillar Season

This episode highlights an important seasonal shift:

April produces massive leaf growth
May produces caterpillars that feed on it

Nature balances rapid foliage expansion with equally rapid insect activity.

Monitoring plants now helps prevent serious damage later.

Rose Care and Rose Rosette Prevention

Small caterpillars and midge insects can quickly damage rose foliage.

Recommended spray mix:

3 oz Rose Shield
5 oz Wilt-Pruf
1 gallon water

Benefits include:

insect control
disease protection
extended spray coverage for up to five weeks

Wilt-Pruf also helps suppress mites associated with Rose Rosette Disease, one of the most serious rose problems.

Freeze Damage on Crepe Myrtle? Don’t Panic

Late frosts can damage emerging crepe myrtle growth.

Good news:

damaged foliage can simply be removed
plants will re-leaf
flowering is usually unaffected

Best response:

trim off damaged growth
fertilize heavily
allow new shoots to emerge

Even severely damaged plants often recover fully.

Vegetable Gardens Need Hydrated Lime

One of the strongest messages in this episode:

vegetable gardens require hydrated lime

Apply hydrated lime directly into planting holes before planting vegetables.

Why it matters:

immediately available to plants
improves nutrient uptake
supports strong growth

Important distinction:

hydrated lime works immediately
pelletized lawn lime may take months to activate

This is especially important for:

tomatoes
peppers
leafy vegetables

Lime Helps More Than Vegetables

Many plants benefit from additional lime.

This includes:

lawns
annuals
perennials
clematis

Clematis especially benefits because stronger vines help reduce stem cracking and wilt issues.

Prune Forsythia Immediately After Bloom

Forsythia should be pruned hard right after flowering.

Benefits:

stronger new growth
fuller shape
more blooms next spring

Always fertilize after pruning to support regrowth.

Treat Grubs, Moles, and Voles Now

If lawns show signs of:

mole tunnels
vole activity
grub damage

Now is the key treatment window.

Recommended treatment:

Dylox 24 Hour Grub Killer

Missing this timing may delay effective treatment until August.

Shady Lawn Season Is Here

May remains one of the best periods for improving shady lawns.

Why shady lawns work differently:

lower weed pressure
less crabgrass competition
cooler soil conditions

Sunny lawns become harder to seed once weed preventers are applied.

Best Fix for Thin Sunny Areas

For small damaged sunny areas:

use custom-cut sod patches

After watering twice, sod often establishes within one week.

Final Reminder: Ask Questions Early

Spring problems are easiest to solve early.

Gardeners are encouraged to:

send photos of lawn and plant issues
ask questions before damage spreads
diagnose problems quickly

Early action creates healthier lawns and landscapes all season.