Late May is a gardener’s favorite time of year! Every yards looks a bit like Munchkinland in technicolor. The spring weather has certainly been very interesting. The ups. The downs. And all of that rain, which has probably set us up for a fungal battle royale.

We’ve already seen cases of Powdery Mildew and Anthracnose at the plant Desk, and predict that we’ll soon be seeing cases of Apple Scab. While fungus can be fairly easy to control on ornamental plants, treating fruit crops is trickier as you can’t use the systemic products. These types of fungicides and insecticides enter the tissue of the plant, making them unsuitable for eating. And this isn’t restricted to you and your family. Birds and small wildlife can be harmed if they ingest systemically treated fruits. But there is a great biological fungicide on the market called Serenade that can act preventively. It’s available in a ready-to-use spray, as well as a concentrate in a hose-end sprayer.

If you’re having problems with insects on your fruit and veg, using combination products makes a lot of sense. Since you won’t have to concoct your own mixtures, there is less room for error. Please follow package instructions exactly. Using more product does not mean better protection. It can be harmful to the plant, and more importantly to you and your family.

Watch out for Cherry Leaf Spot and Brown Rot on any stone fruit crops such as cherries, plums and peaches. These fungal diseases can be prevented with a recommended fungicide. It is too late to treat for Peach Leaf Curl, but if you see it, make a note to remind yourself to apply a dormant spray of Lime Sulfur early next spring. And thinning the crop will lessen the stress on the plant.

It’s finally warm enough to plant out all those heat-loving veggies like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. They’ll soon be growing like crazy, but may need to be monitored for a few pests. We’ve also heard reports of Cabbageworm so watch for those. They’re pale green caterpillars and will devour any of the Brassicas. Pick them off or treat with Eight. And the Zimmerman Sawflies are active on Mugo Pines in the area. You can zap them with Sevin.

Let’s finish with a few words about all of the late emerging plants. We’ve seen a lot of live Roses, Hydrangeas and Weigelas coming into the Plant Desk. Even though the top-growth looks really dead, mature plants have established root systems. There is every chance that the plant will send new shoots form the roots. So be patient. If you have warranty questions, bring in photos. And do what you can to keep your affected trees and shrubs healthy and vigorous. Watering them when it gets hot and dry later this summer will go a long way.