Learn about what you should be doing in the month of MAY. A selection of Garden Tips (Trees & Shrubs, Turfgrass, Flowers, Water Gardens, Fruits & Vegetables) can be found by clicking on GARDEN TIPS.

As you may already know, brewing compost tea is not a new idea. Researchers have found evidence that early Roman, Greek, and Egyptian farmers were making tea using brewing methods that probably involved a bucket, compost or manure, water, and occasional stirring. Such methods, unfortunately, create a high probability of anaerobic conditions developing. Therefore, these methods are discouraged and brewing Actively Aerated Compost Tea (AACT) that uses fully decomposed hot compost, as well as an aeration system, is recommended. This is the method described in last month’s article.

While there are any number of enthusiasts painting compost tea as a panacea for all your garden ills, there are many (including university and extension center) websites that paint a different picture. Who’s right is up for debate. We report - you decide . . . by clicking on COMPOST TEA: GOOD OR BAD?

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But, that's just the beginning. Click on MOVING PLANTS OUTDOORS to learn more best practices of moving those treasured indoor plants out to nature.

Because most lacebugs overwinter as eggs and hatch in the early spring, that is a good time to control them before they do hatch. Click on LACE BUGS to find out more about identifying, monitoring, and controlling these pesky little bugs.

For more information on the causes of it, how to be proactive in avoiding it, and how to manage it once it appears, click on SPRING DEAD SPOT.

DESIGNING: In February we featured Part One of a four-part series on Designing, Building, Planting, and Maintaining a vegetable / herb garden. It focused on the planning and designing phase. If you missed it or would like to review such, click on PART 1.

BUILDING: In March, we covered the building phase of a new vegetable garden, including in-ground, forms of raised bed and container layouts, as well as soil types and preparation for the new garden. If you missed it or would like to review such, click on PART 2.

PLANTING: Last month we covered the planting phase of a new vegetable garden, including temperature and frost tolerance, planting times for your chosen vegetables, arranging plants in the garden, and other planting tips. If you missed it, or would like to review such, click on PART 3.

So, welcome to the fourth installment of our four-part vegetable gardening series. Now that your project garden is planted, be ready to enjoy the next phase of nurturing and maintaining by clicking on MAINTAINING THAT GARDEN to learn about some best practices to stay ahead of problems and issues. We hope this series has helped get some folks out and digging. Happy gardening!

Popularized by Mel Bartholomew on PBS Television, Square foot gardening is a technique for growing a variety of flowers, vegetables and herbs in a small space. Click on SQUARE FOOT GARDENING to learn how to properly do this unique gardening.