May Jobs to do in the Garden
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May is here! And there’s plenty to do in the Garden
May is one of the busiest and most exciting months in the gardening calendar. With warmer days, longer evenings and (usually!) the last frosts behind us, the garden really comes to life. Here’s a practical checklist of what to be doing this month to keep your garden looking its best all summer long.
1. Plant Up Summer Bedding
May is prime time for planting summer bedding once the risk of frost has passed. Fill borders, containers and hanging baskets with favourites such as petunias, geraniums, begonias, lobelia and marigolds.
Top tip: Keep some fleece handy just in case of a late cold snap, especially early in the month.
2. Sow Seeds Outdoors
Soil temperatures are rising, making May ideal for sowing directly outside. In flower beds, try cosmos, nasturtiums, calendula and cornflowers for quick, colourful results.
In the veg garden, sow carrots, beetroot, lettuce, radishes, spring onions and peas. Succession sowing every couple of weeks will give you a longer harvest period.
3. Harden Off Young Plants
If you’ve been growing plants indoors or in a greenhouse, they’ll need hardening off before planting out. Gradually expose them to outdoor conditions during the day for 7–10 days to avoid shock.
This is especially important for tomatoes, courgettes and tender bedding plants.
4. Feed Hungry Plants
Plants are putting on rapid growth now and will benefit from regular feeding. Use a balanced general fertiliser in borders and a high‑potash feed for flowering plants, roses and fruit.
Lawns also appreciate a boost - apply a spring/summer lawn feed to encourage lush growth and richer colour.
5. Look After Your Lawn
May is a key month for lawn care:
- Mow regularly, gradually lowering the cutting height
- Edge borders for a neat finish
- Repair bare patches with seed or turf
If moss is a problem, apply a suitable treatment and rake out once it blackens.
6. Watch Out for Pests
As temperatures rise, pests become more active. Keep an eye out for aphids, slugs, snails and vine weevil.
Encourage wildlife such as birds and hedgehogs, use traps where necessary, and remove pests early before they become a bigger issue.
7. Support Climbers and Tall Plants
Climbing plants like sweet peas, clematis and climbing roses grow quickly in May. Tie in new shoots to trellis or supports to prevent damage and encourage strong growth.
Stake tall perennials early so supports are hidden as plants grow.
8. Deadhead and Tidy Spring Flowers
Remove faded blooms from spring bedding and bulbs to keep displays tidy and encourage plants to put energy into healthy growth (or bulbs for next year).
Allow bulb foliage to die back naturally - resist the urge to tidy too soon.
9. Mulch Borders
Adding mulch around plants helps retain moisture, suppress weeds and improve soil structure. Use compost, well‑rotted manure or bark chippings for best results.
10. Enjoy the Garden!
Finally, don’t forget to stop and enjoy the results of all your hard work. May is the perfect month to spend time outdoors, plan future planting and simply enjoy the garden coming into its own.
Visit Us for Everything You Need This May
From bedding plants and compost to feeds, tools and expert advice, we’ve got everything you need to make the most of your garden this month. Pop in and speak to our friendly team - we’re always happy to help.