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Spring arrived recently, now summer seems to be here with bright sunshine and no rain. Weather is the one element that gardeners have absolutely no control over which makes it a frequent topic when gardening is discussed. We need to insure that plants receive adequate water. Remember early morning is the best time for watering. If we water during the heat of the day it evaporates too quickly and if we water late in the day we are encouraging mold and other problems.

Forget about fall leaves. Spring leaves are everywhere. You do not have to have any trees to have a yard full of leaves that need raking or mulching with the mower. Add leaves to your compost pile or begin a compost pile if you don't have one.

Annuals:
Now is the time to plant seeds for Marigold, Cosmos, Zinnia, Celosia, Cleome, Sunflower and Nasturtiums. Plants started indoors earlier need to be hardened off. Set them outside in a shady spot for two weeks, check them daily to see if they need water, and transplant them into their spot in the garden. Annuals are for sale everywhere at this time. Look for healthy plants with few blooms and lots of buds. Plants in 4" pots have better root systems that ones in six-packs but they are more expensive. This would be a good time for me to go on a diet and lose the extra winter produced pounds and release some food money for plants. Buy what you budget can stand. Snipping off the flowers when you transplant six-pack plants will encourage root growth. After you plant them in well prepared beds be sure to check daily to see if they need water.

Perennials:
It's time to divide and plant perennials remembering to allow space to grow. Experience has taught me that in South Georgia plants need a little more room than is usually recommended. I have a few spots that are jungles in the making if I don't do some drastic trimming. Watering is important, especially if plants are in full sun so check often. In this area container grown plants need daily watering. I like clay or terra cotta pots but they dry out quicker than plastic. Sometimes I place the plastic pot in the clay pot to get the look I want..

Shrubs:
Now is a good time to plant new shrubs or transplant existing shrubs. Bare-root plants need to be soaked before planting and dead or broken roots should be pruned. After planting, water well and mulch to help retain moisture and control weeds. Azaleas, Spireas and other flowering shrubs need pruning as soon as they finish blooming. Selective pruning is best and remember to open up the center of the plant to allow air to circulate and cut off branches that cross or touch other branches. If the shrubs are really overgrown and need a major renovation you can cut it back by one third each year until it rejuvenates.

Pest Control:
Watch for aphids and use a strong stream of water to flush them away on annuals. For perennials and shrubs aphids and other pests may invade and can be washed off with the strong stream of water or use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Slugs love Hostas! After two attempts to grow Hostas I surrendered but diligent use of snail bait can control slugs. Lace bugs may cause Azalea leaves to be silvery and speckled and can be treated with insecticidal soap or pesticides. If using pesticides READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY before purchasing and again before using. Perennial beds need hand weeding. A non selective weedkiller can be used with careful spraying. Use cardboard, newspaper or plastic to cover perennials to protect them from the spray. Rather than spray I use a detergent bottle with a push top to direct the weedkiller on the specific weed.

Fertilizers:
Annuals need a boost after they are transplanted. A water soluble fertilizer at the time of planting followed by a slow release fertilizer later will work. The slow release fertilizer can be placed in the hole prior to planting as an alternative method to fertilizing later. Existing perennials can be fertilized at this time with a complete fertilizer like 10-10-10. If the soil has been well amended it will only need fertilizer three times a year, spring, summer and fall. Established shrubs can be fertilized in the spring with 10-10-10. Purchased cow or chicken manure or compost is my choice to top dress everything.

Whew! A busy time is ahead for us in the garden. Think of it as good exercise. Keep on gardening.

Naomi Carter, Decatur County Master Gardener volunteer with the Decatur County Extension Office of the University of Georgia Extension Service