UC Master Gardeners seeking new members

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• May in the garden: Plant, feed, beware of frost

  May in the garden: Plant, feed, beware of frost

  May is a month for planting, fertilizing and controlling pests. But don’t be fooled by a late frost.

  Plant dahlias and gladiolus for summer color. For annuals you can plant dianthus and pansies. As the nights become warmer you can hang baskets of fuchsias and geraniums. For perennials, shop for summer and fall color with asters, coreopsis, and cornflowers.

  Now is the time to check the needs of your lawn. Aerate, feed and over-seed to get rid of bald patches. Around mid-month, feed your lawn with an even coat of highnitrogen fertilizer, watering thoroughly after application.

• Edible gardens will pay for themselves in produce

  Edible gardens will pay for themselves in produce

  Does your home landscape deserve the time, water and money you put into it? Consider increasing your rewards by developing an edible landscape — incorporating plants that can be eaten, with or without plants that are purely ornamental.

  The ongoing scarcity of water on the Central Coast, the rising cost of grocery store produce and the importance of conserving energy make it difficult to justify spending resources on gardens that do not pay their way in some fashion.

  Having a variety of beautiful, edible plants, trees and shrubs among the ornamental ones can add an element of beauty, functionality and fun to your landscape.

• Of birds, bees, bats, butterflies and blooms

  Of birds, bees, bats, butterflies and blooms

  This month’s Advice to Grow By workshop will star birds, blooms and butterflies. The workshop, put on by the University of California Master Gardeners, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Garden of the Seven Sisters, 2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo. Bring a notepad and be prepared to discover the connection between wildlife and success in the garden.

  As population soars and growth sneaks into unfettered areas, wildlife habitat continues to decline. Come and uncover the history, problems and causes related to loss of wildlife habitat.

  Wildlife adds animation to the garden but also confers many benefits, such as insect control and ecological balance. Learn how your skills as a gardener can help create a beautiful, sustainable garden that encourages a diverse and healthy ecosystem.

• April gardening — where’s a good place to start?

  April gardening — where’s a good place to start?

  Q: My garden is beginning to come alive. Other than the usual clean-up and watering, what needs to be done this time of year? — Jeanette Wolff, Cambria

  A: If you’re planning on adding new plants to what you have — and what gardener isn’t — now’s the time to visit a nursery to pick colors that will accentuate established plantings.

  Choose a new clivia for a shady corner, a clematis for arbors and fences. New and exciting varieties of perennials such as agapanthus, chrysanthemums, coreopsis, gaillardia, gazania, verbena and yarrow are best planted now and will give you color for many months of the year.

• Regular nitrogen applications benefit citrus trees

  Regular nitrogen applications benefit citrus trees

  Q: I just moved into a house that has been empty for several months. There are neglected citrus and avocado trees in the yard. How should I care for them? -- Susan Finn, San Luis Obispo

  A: Is it any wonder that we love living on the Central Coast? In most areas of the county, citrus trees and avocados can be grown with relative ease. They are beautiful year-round. They produce bountiful quantities of delicious fruit. Few scents are more intoxicating than citrus blossoms. Surely, one of our most important gardening tasks should be proper care and feeding of these wonderful gifts from nature.

  Lack of proper nutrients can affect fruit size, flavor, color and abundance. Commercial citrus growers use sophisticated techniques to analyze the nutritional needs of their trees. For the home gardener these tools are not practical, but there is some basic information that will help us care for our orchards.