May 2025

Turf is growing at a rapid pace, showy spring blooms are infusing the landscape with pops of color, and gardeners who planted cool-season crops like greens are harvesting salad-fresh produce already — and preparing beds for tomatoes and other goodies in June. Nurseries are ramped up and supplying perennials to garden centers while managing ongoing maintenance.

There’s much to do in May and the following weeks—prime time for water-saving tactics that will keep plants and grass growing strong once the summer heat turns up.

Jumpstart summer with these pro tips from the Soil Moist nursery, landscape, and home and garden experts at JRM.

As hostas and other perennials fill in, are they starting to take over your landscape beds? Sometimes, you need to see just how far they’ll spread before deciding it’s time for a split. Clear room for more growth and preserve plant health so crowded perennials aren’t competing for water and nutrients from the soil. First prepare the new location by digging a hole twice as large as the root ball. Water the plant thoroughly then dig around the plant. Carefully lift the whole plant and root ball out of the spot, then divide and replant the smaller sections in their new homes.

Planning a vacation? Hit the road without stressing about houseplants. Soil Moist Vacation Mats contain a water-storing polymer woven into a cloth. Line a tray or baking sheet with the mats, saturate with water and let Soil Moist water your plants for up to three weeks while you’re away.

Line containers with Soil Moist Mats before planting to reduce plant waterings by 50%. The mats were voted the best new product from Super Floral Show and Green Profit magazine.

• Soil Moist Transplant to prepare landscape beds for plant installation
• Soil Moist Vacation Mats so you can travel without sacrificing plant health
• Soil Moist Mats to cut container watering in half

Whether you’re patching a customer’s lawn so it can recover from a family dog’s “spots” or completely replanting a lawn, you can fast-forward grass seed germination and improve turf density and vigor with Seed Coat. Think of Seed Coat as the ultimate grass-growing shortcut.

How does it work? A polymer compound retains moisture from water and humid air. It also softens the seed tissue so water better penetrates the seed and promotes germination. Plus, it helps retain heat on the seed’s surface and makes for easier spreading.

Reduce clients’ water bill and give their yard some “insurance” to protect against drought with Liquid Soil Moist you can easily tank mix and spray on the lawn. We recommend this for high-traffic and high-visibility lawn areas.

Before installing annuals, perennials or shrubs in landscape beds, amend the soil with Plant Thrive, which contains naturally occurring bacteria (the good kind) that most stripped urban soils are missing out on. Offer customers some of our literature explaining how it is sustainable and safe for vegetables, flowers, trees—all plants. They can spend on plant replacement down the road, or preserve their landscape investment from the get-go with Plant Thrive.

• Seed Coat to fast-track new grass growth
• Liquid Soil Moist for a water-saving tank mix to treat established lawns
• Plant Thrive to prepare soil for landscape bed planting

Spring and early summer are spirited times for cities when crews can replant public spaces and bring new life to containers with fresh blooms. Hanging baskets, while important visual assets in communities, can tend to be high maintenance as the weather heats up. Many cities’ flower beds are watered by volunteers, and others dedicate team members from parks and rec crews or grounds maintenance for these tasks. Free up more of everyone’s time and stretch out time between waterings with Soil Moist, which minimizes watering by 50%.

Win back double the time with Soil Moist Plus 7-7-7 water-storing polymer with a nine-month time-release fertilizer. It lasts in the soil for three to five years and is nontoxic, which residents appreciate — especially for public spaces where their children are playing.

Cities’ summer programming can include a range of creative STEM classes for kids through parks and rec departments. Looking for ideas? Check out a treasure trove of innovative, hands-on projects youth counselors can try with campers using Deco Beads.

• Soil Moist to minimize municipal plant waterings by 50%
• Soil Moist Plus 7-7-7 lasts three to five years and includes fertilizer
• Deco Beads for cool parks and rec program projects

Why not store more water so you can save time, money and resources? Tell us how you use Soil Moist products in your home or business. We look forward to hearing from you!