Heads can start to spin in May in the garden as the weather and growth rates really start to pick up. One walk through the garden can throw up a whole host of things to do. But whatever happens, try and find the time to sit back and enjoy this month because May is a time of abundant bloom and warm weather. One thing for certain is that the May Bank Holiday is a day for the garden. See below for what you can do in the month ahead.

Plants of the Month

(From Left to Right) Petunia, Elder Berry, Rhodedendron, lilac, Rosa

Things to Consider

• There is some confusion regarding when Summer officially begins. Both calander & weather tend to agree that it is not the 1st of May, but the 1st of June. May Day (1st of May) does however bring warmer weather with average temperatures for May reaching a dizzying height of 12 degrees
• Each year the weather can vary significantly and this will really determine what work is to be done in the garden. Rainfall levels are the biggest concern in the month, with too much rain putting a halt to our plans and too little rain leading to water drought in plants
• Pest, weeds & water levels are the main focus of the month ahead

Things to Do

In the Fruit & Veg Garden

1. Harden off indoor grown seedlings before planting out this month, including
   • Tomatoes
   • Courgettes
   • Squash
   • Pumpkins
2. Keep carrot rows covered with protective fleece to guard against carrot fly
3. Weed between rows every week to keep on top of weeds, make life easy & prevent weeds from developing seeds
4. Continue to sow fast growing salads every two weeks such as
   • Pak choi, lettuce, spinach & rocket 
5. You can also keep sowing all other vegetable seeds direct outdoors in May
6. Thin out rows of seedlings to specific distance
7. Earth up around potatoes once they reach a height of around 10cm
8. By mid May listen out for blight warnings & apply Bordeaux mix or proxanil prior to attack
9. Start potassium feed on strawberries & tomatoes
10. Keep on eye out for slugs attacking seedlings

In the Greenhouse

1. Water tomatoes daily
2. Water seed trays & pots every second day
3. Add liquid based feed to water to boost plant growth
4. Ensure seedlings are not out growing their pots & transplant as necessary
5. Open greenhouse doors on sunny days to ventilate
6. Wet the floor of the greenhouse on warm days to increase humidity
7. Stay vigilant for pests especially green fly on tomatoes & slugs on seedlings

Plant Care

1. Apply the 'Chelsea Chop' technique to low growing herbaceous plants for more compact growth & better flowering, apply to
   • Lavender
   • Phlox
   • Sedums
   • Heleniums
   • Asters
   • Campanula
   • Rudbeckia
2. Place plant supports around taller herbaceous plants early
3. Continue to treat & prevent against blackspot on roses
4. Continue to feed all shrubs & flowering plants
5. Dead head roses & once foliage has faded on spring bulbs you can cut them down to ground level

Lawn Care

May is a quieter month for lawn care, however grass growth can peak this month

1. Cut grass every 10 days, extend that to every 2 weeks on family or 'busy' lawns
2. Continue application of weed feed & moss killer for ideal manicured lawns
3. If not doing above, you can still feed with nitrogen based fertiliser
4. It's not too late to do repairs & patch work on lawns
5. Apply lawn weed killer to kill off dandelions
6. Pick dandelions flower heads to prevent them from going to seed

In Garden Beds & Borders

1. Strim & cut back borders for a neat garden
2. Plant out Summer bedding between larger plants
3. Plant out greenhouse sown perennials for Summer colour
4. Dead head roses & once foliage has faded on spring bulbs you can cut them down to ground level
5. Bring hanging baskets out from the greenhouse

General Maintenance

1. Stay on top of weeding - weed beds & borders with garden hoe every 2 weeks
2. Water hanging baskets every 2nd day in May. Increase in drier & windier weather
3. Get the patio furniture out, light up the chimineas, stick on the BBQs & enjoy the long warm evenings