May:

Apple trees hand thinned after bloom Athletic clothing & shoes on sale Check your drip irrigation system—you'll be depending on it soon. Clean & vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters & cold-air returns. Clean gutters. Inspect gutters to ensure all spikes, straps and clips are tightly fastened. Use a garden hose to flush debris from downspouts. Make sure downspouts or splashbacks direct water at least three feet away from the foundation. Clean lampshades Continue planting daisies, asters, coreopsis, marigolds, and sunflowers—they nourish the beneficial insects, which will help keep pests in check. Continue to plant heat-tolerant tomatoes, such as ‘Heatwave', ‘Sunchaser', and ‘Sweet 100'. Cookware on sale Cruises on sale European vacations on sale Fertilize houseplants regularly from now until November Fertilize lightly to promote new growth on sage, rosemary, & lavender Furniture on sale Gifts for mom on sale Harvest spring crops daily to keep them producing for as long as possible. Have central air-conditioning unit checked according to the recommendations of the unit's manufacturer. Have piano tuned. Have swimming pools cleaned. Inspect and service pool liners and filters. Highlight Hair Home maintenance items on sale Linens & towels on sale Mattress manufacturers are shipping new models, so retailers are keen to move lingering inventory Mother's Day Move houseplants outdoors into a shady, protected location for the season Plant caladiums in shaded sites. Try narrow-leaved zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia) for hot spots. Give new plantings plenty of water. Plant eggplant, peppers, cucumbers, squash, okra, beans, sweet potatoes, melons, and southern peas this month. Prune lilac, bridal wreath spires, & forsythia after blooming Raise mower height to 3-1/4" Remove foliage of tulip & doffodil bulbs after they yellow & die Remove mineral deposits from faucet aerators and shower heads by soaking parts in white vinegar and scrubbing with an old toothbrush. Replace the filter in the forced-air system. Clean debris from condenser or heat pump located outside. Set thermostats & automatic sprinkler system to adjust for weather changes. Shop for seasonal sales on air-conditioning units & window fans. Silver on sale Vacuum cleaners on sale Wash pillows. Wash windows, inside and out, using a solution made from three tablespoons of non-sudsy ammonia to 1 gallon of water. Don't work in the direct sun - the solution will dry too fast and streak. To clean windows with real (not removable) grills, use a hacksaw to cut a squeegee so it fits the windowpanes exactly. Watches on sale Wedding gowns on sale