No Mow May promotes flower growth for early season pollinators, but there are ways to maintain your lawn in May & help the bees! No Mow May can stress your lawn and create unmanageable yard waste, so we recommend trimming your lawn only when needed and setting your mower to the highest setting.

Get your hands dirty and check the soil around your plant to learn if they need water. You can skip the water if the soil is moist under the top inch of soil, but your plant is thirsty if the soil is dry two inches below the surface. Good to know: Plants grown in containers will dry out faster than ones planted in garden beds.

Basil plants are happiest when pruned regularly! Harvest fresh leaves for your kitchen at any time. Snip young leaves as needed or trim a whole stem (but cut above the bottom two leaves). Good to know: Basil plants should be pruned regularly to avoid becoming woody or flowering, which will yield bitter leaves.

Minnesota’s hot, long summer days are perfect for growing tomatoes. Increase your yield by planting tomatoes well suited for your yard and care habits. Is low maintenance care your style? Plant bush tomatoes. Do you envision a fairytale garden with a tomato trellis? Vining tomatoes will love you. All tomatoes thrive with consistent moisture levels — but avoid sprinkling water on leaves, blossoms, and tomatoes to avoid disease and rot!

Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are critical to the health of our food system and plant diversity! Make your yard a popular pitstop for these friendly superheroes with turf grasses, clover, and plants like coneflowers, marigolds, lilacs, rose bushes, apple trees, and more.  

As the temperatures rise and the days grow longer, it’s best practice to prep your garden with a few simple tasks. Water container plants daily, and water deep. Plant cover crops in large open spaces in gardens and garden beds to slow down erosion and nutrient loss. Slow down lawn maintenance until August to train your yard. Lastly, keep an eye out for pests! Don’t let them set up shop for the season in your garden.

Managing the water bill and your yard’s needs in the heat of summer is a balancing act! Conserve water and care for your lawn by planting drought tolerant grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Encourage deep rooting by watering as infrequently as your lawn can tolerate. Daytime sun and heat will evaporate water before your grass can drink it, so water in the mornings.

Of the 5 million species of insects in the world, only 1-3% of them are pests. Most bugs you see are passing through your garden without snacking on your plants. Determine if a bug is causing reason to worry by inspecting your plant. Is your produce being eaten? Leaves looking ragged? Use context clues to identify your pest and research holistic ways to deter them from your garden.

If you've got room to spare in your garden thanks to an early harvest, we collected a list of fast growing plants to fill in the gaps! Brassicas like broccoli and kale will be ready in fall thanks to hot summer days. Leafy greens like spinach and chard are a great choice for July planting—even if they don’t fully mature, young leaves can be harvested before a freeze.

Low maintenance as they come, hostas are a popular garden plant in Minnesota thanks to their hardiness and versatility. However, they are still susceptible to sun damage, disease, and more. The best way to diagnose your plant’s problems is by taking a good look at their leaves. 

Gardening gets dirty, but that doesn’t mean your tools need to stay that way! Dirty tools and pots can spread bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Remove dirt from your tools with a stiff brush and take a power washer to stubborn soil. Be sure to sanitize your tools with the appropriate solution for the material. 

Though many houseplants thrive outside in the summer, Minnesota’s dropping temperatures can cause damage if left outside too late into the season. When temperatures dip down to 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s time to bring your plant babies back indoors. As their environment will change drastically, avoid shock by taking it slow. Gradually acclimate them to being indoors. 

Do these three things now to ensure a happy, healthy yard next summer! 1. Deeply water your yard 2-3 days before dethatching or aerating your lawn. 2. If you’re overseeding this fall, do it early enough to let the roots mature before winter. 3. Fertilize in early September to add nutrients to repair the soil after summer.

With cooler temps around the corner, here are a few steps you can take to protect your plants this winter. Avoid becoming rabbit food by building enclosures around thin-barked trees and shrubs. Install tree guards on young trees to ward off sun scald and frost cracks. Lastly, avoid pruning in September as new growth will be too delicate to survive the cold. 

Apples can be picked and enjoyed before the first frost! Pay attention to apple variety, color, and texture to determine ripeness. Some varieties like the State Fair apple are ripe as early as mid-August while others like the Keepsake apple may not be ready until October. Ripe apples should be sweet, non-starchy, and mostly red. 

Green Bean Caprese Salad

Cilantro, Pesto Chicken and Veggie Skewers

Burrata Tomato Flatbread