LAWNS need their first round of organic fertilizer. Apply Texas Greensand for iron if your grass was yellow last year. Put down corn gluten meal for a natural weed-seed killer. Mowing: Keep a weekly regimen of mowing to keep weed growth to a minimum. Cut or pull weeds in the lawn before they drop seed. For fleas, ticks, ants, and grub worm control, apply beneficial nematodes in spring and fall. Watering: Don't apply more than 1" of water per week. Water only in the early morning hours. Grass doesn't like to have "wet feet" at night. Evening watering can cause fungus problems. VEGETABLES TO PLANT NOW Early May is the cut-off of these summer vegetables, so don't delay in planting: Tomatoes, corn, cucumber, eggplant, cantaloupe, peppers, potato, radish,, squash (both summer and winter), beans, cantaloupe, and watermelon. When planting, use rock phosphate as a root stimulator. Fertilize three times during the growing season, mixing dry organic fertilizers into the soil. Spray veggie foliage with a mixture of seaweed and fish emulsion as a mild fertilizer and a natural repellant for spider mites. PLANT ANNUALS: Petunias, begonias, dianthus, gazania, dusty miller, geraniums, alyssum, bachelor buttons, coleus, poppies, larkspur, heather, periwinkle, and zinnia (just to name a few). FERTILIZE AND MULCH flower beds. Any flavor of mulch will do to insulate plant roots, hold in water, and keep weed growth to a minimum. Pull weeds as you see them, especially before they go seed. Finish TRIMMING leggy perennials and winter die-back. PRUNE Crepe Myrtles: the rule is to cut off growth that's less than the size of a pencil, any branches that cross each other, and the seed pods. Don't lob off the tops of crepe myrtles -- this causes spindly, twiggy branches and weakens support for the flowers. Contact Bob: bob@bobsorganics.com