May in the Garden

Hang a basket of flowers on someone's door to celebrate May Day on the first of the month. This is a tradition that children especially enjoy. A small basket and a few fresh flowers are all that's needed. Don't forget flowers for your own door on May 1.

Don't be concerned about ants on peony heads. The ants do no harm as they feed on the sweet sap exuded by the buds. Some say their activity actually helps to stimulate the buds into opening. Ants in roses, on the other hand, signify the presence of aphids. Ants "herd" colonies of aphids, feeding on the sweet sap they excrete. Crush aphid clusters with your fingers.

Remove dead flower heads from large-flowered bulbs, but do not disturb the foliage. Full ripening of the leaves is needed to nourish the bulbs for another pleasing period of bloom next spring. Wait until bulb foliage has wilted and yellowed before removing it.

Plant hanging baskets, window boxes and patio tubs this month.

Seed warmth lovers such as basil, beans, corn and squash outdoors. An outdoor sowing can also be made of fall and winter vegetables -- Brussels sprouts, fall and winter cabbages, overwintering cauliflower and sprouting broccoli, and kale.

To ease stress on the body while gardening, vary the tasks as much as possible. This will avoid putting all the work on one set of muscles.

Reduce the weight of large patio tubs by placing a layer of foam packing chips, or an inverted pot with a narrow base, in the bottom before filling with soil. Make sure the pot does not cover the larger container's drainage holes.

Adding young stems of sweet cicely or angelica to rhubarb while it is cooking will reduce the amount of sweetener needed.

Try using large plastic bottles as watering collars around tomato plants. Cut away the top portion and base of the container and press it a few inches into the ground around newly transplanted tomatoes. Concentrate watering and fertilizing within the collar.

Where space is limited and no trellis or other major support is available, try growing vining cucumbers in wire tomato cages.

Pinch back the stems of Michaelmas daisies to produce denser plants and better flowering later. Stake tall varieties, and fertilize very lightly.