Memorial Day weekend isn’t just about cookouts and commemorations—it’s also the unofficial start of summer gardening. As we discuss in Jerry Baker’s Great Green Book of Garden Secrets, late May is prime time for planting, prepping, and pampering your landscape. If you’re itching to get your hands dirty this holiday weekend, we’ve pulled together some of our best Memorial Day gardening tips to set your yard up for a season full of blooms, veggies, and vibrant curb appeal.
Memorial Day = Go Time for Summer Garden Tips
By Memorial Day, your soil is warm, frost is (finally!) gone, and your garden is ready to grow. We always says this is the time to plant with confidence.
- 🌱 Warm-weather veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, and corn can all go in the ground now without risk.
- 🌺 Annuals and tender perennials thrive when planted this weekend. Use this time to fill my beds with petunias, impatiens, and zinnias.
- 🌞 Sunflowers and marigolds aren’t just beautiful—they repel pests too! Combine beauty with utility, and these are two of his Memorial Day Gardening favorites.
Summer Garden Tip: The trick to harden off seedlings? Leave them outside during the day for a week, bringing them in at night until they’re tough enough to handle the elements.
Time to Rejuvenate Your Lawn
Memorial Day Gardening was “make-or-break” time for your lawn. Early chapters of Jerry Baker’s Great Green Book of Garden Secrets are filled with tips on waking up tired turf and giving it a big dose of summer strength.
- 🧪 Soil test first, especially if your lawn struggled in spring. Adjust pH and feed with a balanced fertilizer.
- 🌿 Apply the famous “June Green-Up Tonic” (yes, even in late May):
- 1 can of beer
- 1 cup of ammonia
- ½ cup of baby shampoo
- Mix in a 20-gallon hose-end sprayer and spray your lawn for a lush green boost.
- 💧 Water deeply in the morning—not every day, but long enough to reach the roots. Deep roots = strong lawns.
Green Lawn Secret: Mow a little higher starting this weekend. Taller grass shades the soil and helps keep weeds away naturally.
Add a Patriotic Touch with Plants
Why not mix celebration with cultivation? Memorial Day is a great time to create red, white, and blue garden accents.
- 🌹 Red: Try geraniums, salvias, or snapdragons. Bold and bright!
- 🌼 White: Alyssum, petunias, and Shasta daisies give that crisp, clean contrast.
- 🔵 Blue: Blue salvia, lobelia, and bachelor’s buttons bring in the finishing patriotic punch.
You can use containers on your porch or build a small “flag garden” in a sunny corner. They always get compliments from guests.
This Memorial Day, follow Jerry Baker’s advice to dig in and set the tone for a thriving summer garden. Whether you’re planting veggies, reviving your lawn, or adding a festive flair with flowers, these Memorial Day gardening strategies are simple, powerful, and totally Jerry-approved.
So skip the big-box distractions this weekend—grab your hose, your gloves, and maybe a cold beer for your soil and yourself. Let’s make this the summer your garden shines brighter than ever.
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