May
Dead-head tulips.
Mow grass when it reaches 3-4 inches. Set the mower to 2 1/2 to 3 inches.
Hold off mulching until the soil is warm.
Plant lettuce, beans, corn and carrots.
Plant tomatoes when the lilacs bloom. Sprinkle a teaspoon of Epsom salts into the hole where they go to provide magnesium.
Plant marigolds, zinnias and nasturtiums in and around vegetables and flower beds to repel insects. Plant gladiolas at 2 week intervals.
It's time to weed dandelions, before they flower and set seed, or harvest the dandelion greens.
Stake peonies and other tall growing plants before they get too big.
Cut back tall perennials like bee balm and phlox to control height.
Harvest rhubarb by grabbing it at the base of the stalk and pulling firmly away from the crown, twisting just a bit. Be sure to throw the leaves into the compost as they are poisonous. Prune spring blooming shrubs just as soon as the flowers have faded. Deadhead lilacs. Check lilies for red lily leaf beetles. Dispose of them in soapy water, followed by spraying the leaves in the dawn or dust with natural insect repellant. To create a broad-spectrum all-natural insect repellent, mix equal parts of doTERRA Rosemary, Peppermint, Thyme, and Clove essential oils (about 10 drops of each) in a 16 oz spray bottle filled with water.
Don't forget to deadhead bulbs as well. Leave the foliage, but take out the spent flower heads. Slugs chewing the hostas? Stop Slugs and Snails — doTERRA Cedarwood, and Siberian Pine are the best essential oils for keeping gastropods off of your plants. Mix about a teaspoon of your chosen oil(s) in a spray bottle filled with water. Apply diluted oil in a ring around plants where slugs and snails like to visit. Refresh as needed.
Check apple, cherry, and other fruit trees for tent caterpillars. As soon as the tender new leaves emerge so will the caterpillars. If you have to spray with natural insecticide, like doTERRA Cedarwood, do it after bloom is finished to protect the bees.
Plant annuals no sooner than May 30th.