It has been a wet one! After a spring that has kept many of us off our lawns and out of our garden beds longer than usual, mid-May is finally the time to get moving. Here is what to focus on right now in Southeast Wisconsin.

Flowers

We are past the average last frost date, so tender annuals can go in the ground. Just watch the overnight forecast — a late cold snap is not out of the question in our area. If your spring bulb foliage has yellowed, go ahead and remove it. Deadhead spent blooms to keep things tidy and encourage continued flowering.  For  butterfly bush, Russian sage, and caryopteris, prune back to where you see new growth emerging. Edge your beds with a sharp spade to define things now that the ground has had a chance to firm up from all that rain.

Lawn

With all the moisture we have had, we anticipate insect and disease activity to be high this season. May and June are ideal times to apply a grub preventative. We treat for pests as part of our HortiCare program. Learn more here:

Keep your mower blade set around 3 inches and never take off more than a third of the grass height at once — this is especially important right now since wet conditions already stress turf. This is also a good window to patch any bare or damaged areas; just keep newly seeded spots consistently moist as they establish.

Trees and Shrubs

Once your forsythia, lilacs, viburnum, or weigela have finished blooming, it’s time to prune — do not wait. These shrubs set next year’s flower buds during the growing season, so pruning later means fewer blooms next spring. For birch, viburnum, and other borer-prone trees, now is the time to apply a systemic insecticide once they finish blooming.

The wet spring has also created favorable conditions for future fungal issues and certain pest populations, so keep a close eye on your plants. Catching a problem early is far easier — and less costly — than addressing it once it has taken hold.

We are happy to help with all your landscaping needs, from regular lawn maintenance to hardscape projects, our team of experts can help you have an outdoor space that will be the envy of your neighbors! Get in touch today!