RIDGEFIELD, CT — For a gardener in Ridgefield, the month of May can be a little bit overwhelming.
“We’ve been waiting, waiting and then everything happens all at once,” said Lisa Chuma, a member of The Ridgefield Garden Club.
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May is the time to go heavy on the mulch. Chuma suggests buying it in bulk locally, and getting as much mulch down in your flower beds as possible before summer begins.
“It suppresses weeds and keeps moisture in the ground at the roots of a plant. It’s really one of the most important things you can do for your garden right now.”
Early May, while it is still cool and somewhat damp, is a great time to plant perennials, Chuma said. It’s easier on the plants, and it’s easier on you.
“There’s a lot of rain, and it just makes the transition easier. You don’t want to plant something on the hottest day of the spring when you know there’s no chance of rain in sight. And that’s just going to stress the plant,” Chuma said.
Most of your plantings don’t appreciate a cool spring as much as you and your perennials do, and the gardener suggests holding off putting them in the ground until later in the month.
“As far as annuals, flowers and vegetables, the rule of thumb is you not to plant those types of things until any danger of frost has passed, which usually is Memorial Day weekend,” Chuma said.
#NoMowMay: Yea or Nay?
May botanicals maintenance is also the focus of the controversial #NoMowMay movement. Don’t mow your lawn during the month, proponents argue, and give newly wakened pollinators a better breakfast.
Chuma’s not a fan.
“It’s almost a tease to pollinators and things that you want to attract, because you go for a few weeks with not mowing, and then all of a sudden, you start mowing again, you’re basically cutting down everything that had an opportunity to grow during that time.”
Many botanists agree. As grasses grow the most in May compared to any other month, “scalping” your lawn can harm it, according to turf experts at the University of Minnesota.
Everyone agrees that May is the time to visit the Ridgefield Garden Club Plant Sale. This year it will be held May 12-13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s the club’s biggest fundraiser and an opportunity for gardeners to grab some greenery they might not otherwise find anywhere else.