May 2021 Garden Update - Lisa's Two Cents

Happy Monday! Hope you have an amazing Mother’s Day weekend! This weekend my Mom and I went to a local plant sale and I stopped up at a garden center – let’s just say I’m itching to start planting outside, but hard to do when you see SNOW AGAIN! Ugh, I think we will be in the clear after this weekend, but what a crazy May. We’ve been hot and we’ve been cold. We’ve seen some awesome sunshine but also had lots of rain and slushy snow – just your typical Cleveland weather!

Anyway, my plan is to share some monthly updates that give more detail on what is happening in the garden. So here’s what we got for the month of May! Spoiler: A LOT of prep work!

First off, I’m using my garden journal to make sure I’m marking down overnight lows, anything abnormal (snow or heat) – basically anything that will assist me in future years

I’ve been keeping everything in our garage because the weather is wacky and I just recently purchased some plants for mailbox planter and some fillers for the cut flower garden.

I’m having a difficult time starting snapdragons and celosia from seed (I read it can take several years to get the hang of it) so I have no problem buying these flats for $1.79.

I am still sowing seeds…

Because I am doing a cut garden and not one for show, I need to have plants blooming at different times throughout the season in order to make sure there is ample supply. I will be direct sowing things through mid-June and some flowers all the way to 4th of July!

This week my husband is renting a sod cutter. Our plan is to remove the grass from my projected flower bed locations. We are going to give some of the sod away and also relocate some to areas that need help (particularly our front yard).

After we cut the sod, we will run a rototiller over the cut sod area to loosen up the direct, lay down 4-5″ of soil/compost mix and till that!

Once the soil dries out a bit, I plan to plant half of my tubers in the ground

Our next step to is lay drip tape and burn holes through landscaping fabric and then it’s go time! Lot’s to get done this week, but our hope is to spread it out over the next couple weeks and gradually get it done!

Here’s what I’ve planted so far:

Planted my snaps

Transplanted my Bachelor’s Buttons

Planted the flower box on my mailbox

Scoping out some spots for a new spring/summer buffer plant!

This Primrose is so cute and the perfect addition to this ever growing perennial bed.

Also loving the Alliums that are popping up and almost in full bloom! I’m really digging these transitional varieties! Providing color during this in-between period!