Spring gardens are beginning to mature very nicely now, but this doesn't mean you can sit back and pat yourself on the back over your accomplishments. No, May is still a time of much activity between the plant rows.

• It's gladioli planting time. The best location for these bulbs is in a well-drained location protected from the wind. If the rains don't come, water weekly after the spikes pop out of the ground. Heat-seeking cannas, caladiums and dahlias can also be planted now.
• If you want stronger, bushier plants with more flower power, prepare to give them a pinch. Pinching back encourages branching and more compact growth. This is especially true for such popular ornamentals as petunias, annual salvias and zinnias. The herb basil also benefits from being pinched back.
• If your azaleas, gardenias, hydrangeas, magnolias and rhododendrons have begun to look sickly with yellow leaves streaked by green veins, this could be a sign of iron chlorosis. A light application of Epsom salt around the base of each plant is the cure.
• A mini-garden for apartment or condo dwellers is possible with a bale of hay. Just locate it in a sunny area, poke holes in the top and sides of the bale, put plants in the holes with a little bit of dirt, and water regularly (add water-soluble fertilizer occasionally). Don't overcrowd plants.
• We have had a long winter and a cool spring, so if you have waited to begin your summer vegetable garden until now, you are one smart gardener. With the temperatures finally up, it is time to get those veggies into the ground. Fill your beds with such delectable delights as tomatoes, beans, peppers, okra, squash, cucumbers, eggplant and watermelons.
• When planting tomato transplants, take advantage of the warm soil close to the surface (which induces root growth) by planting the tomatoes in trenches rather than in deep holes. For an even stronger root system, bury all but the upper 3 inches of each plant.
• The temperature has warmed up enough to bring houseplants out for a summer vacation. Just be sure to locate them in areas that receive filtered shade most of the day to prevent sunscald.
• Don't forget to clean the birdbath and refill it with fresh water at least once a week.

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