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Luckily, we have received a bit of rain this spring to help soak the soil before summer days set in. Still, we are in a drought period and must garden with water conservation in mind. Here are a few tips to help keep your garden in fine shape this May.

Watch out: Slugs and snails love the recent rainy, drizzly weather. Be sure to put out bait, and check plants often. Newly planted flower and vegetable starts are especially tasty for them.

Wait: Warm season crops like tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and basil do not like cold, rainy days in May. Wait for the weather to clear out before setting these plants out.

Water: Usually by mid-May it is time to think about watering the garden. Check hoses, sprinklers and hose connections for leaks.

Mulch: It is especially critical that beds get mulched now before summer sets in, as we are now in a drought period. Setting out soaker hoses and then placing mulch on top works best. This puts the water directly to the root zone. Avoid overhead watering. Let the lawn go golden this summer.

Fertilize: Because of drought conditions it is important not to fertilize plants too much. Fertilize plants lightly and less often than usual. The reason for this is to maintain the health of the plant without putting on too much new growth.

Terry Kramer is the site manager for the Humboldt Botanical Garden and a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. Contact her at terrykramer90@gmail.com.

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