May garden tips May garden tips

Gardening Jobs for May

May is an exciting month with lots of fresh growth and plants to enjoy, as well as plenty of jobs to keep you busy in the garden. Beautiful blooms begin to open, trees and shrubs burst into leaf, and containers are ready to be refreshed with vibrant bedding plants. After frosts and April showers, the transition from spring into summer is the perfect motivation to get outdoors and make the most of your space.

What to Sow and Plant in May

  • May is a great month to sow flower seeds including cornflowers, sunflowers, zinnias, primrose, wallflowers, pansies and daisies. You can also sow vegetables such as cucumber, carrots, broccoli, swede, beetroot, peas, spring onions, beans, sweetcorn, courgettes and pumpkins.
  • Summer bedding takes centre stage this month, with begonias, petunias and busy lizzies ready to brighten beds, borders and containers. Geraniums are especially popular because they’re easy to grow and give long-lasting colour through summer.

Lawn Care: May’s Focus

  • Once frosts have passed, mow your lawn regularly, around once a week, to keep it looking neat and healthy. Early May is also a good time to sow a new lawn or repair bare patches on prepared soil.
  • Apply a high nitrogen summer feed for a greener lawn and keep newly sown areas well-watered. You can also leave some grass longer if you want to create a more wildlife-friendly space.

Flowers to Plant & Grow

Beds & Borders

  • Bedding plants raised indoors can now be hardened off over 7 to 10 days before planting out. You can also fill gaps with hardy annuals or late summer favourites like cosmos and nicotiana.
  • Roses, peonies and gladiolus are all excellent choices for planting in May. Hydrangeas are also ideal for beds and larger pots, while cannas and dahlias can go out later in the month if the weather is mild.

Pots & Containers

  • Bedding plants are perfect for brightening pots, troughs, window boxes and hanging baskets. Plant them up now for colourful displays that last throughout the summer.
  • Lavender also grows well in containers and can be moved around to enjoy its scent wherever you like. Feed pots and baskets fortnightly with liquid fertiliser, and top-dress permanent plants with mulch and compost.

Fruit & Veg

  • Continue earthing up early potatoes to stop tubers turning green, and plant main-crop potatoes if you haven’t already. Tomatoes can be planted outside from early May once frosts have passed, but young plants should be hardened off first.
  • Sow quick-growing crops such as salads and spinach every 10 days for a steady harvest. Herbs like parsley and coriander can also be planted now, either in borders or containers if space is limited.
  • Strawberry runners can be planted in beds, pots or hanging baskets if the weather is warm enough. Protect soft fruit with netting from birds and tie in runner beans as they begin to climb.
  • Later in the month, you may be able to harvest rhubarb, asparagus, lettuce, radishes and rocket. Keep new plants watered well during dry or hot spells.

Indoor Gardening

  • May is a good time to repot houseplants, helping to refresh compost and encourage stronger growth. If you’ve been growing seedlings indoors, continue pricking them out as they develop.
  • Before moving tender or half-hardy plants outside, harden them off in a cold frame over 7 to 10 days. Indoor gardening can also be a calming and mindful way to enjoy plants if you have limited outdoor space.

General Maintenance

  • Remove fading spring bedding such as pansies and violas to make room for summer displays. Add old plants to your compost heap or bin if possible.
  • Hoe weeds before they establish and apply a thick mulch to help suppress regrowth and lock in moisture. Mulching also improves soil over time and gives plants a useful boost.
  • Deadhead daffodils and tulips once they finish flowering, but leave the foliage to die back naturally. Cut back early flowering plants and lightly trim shrubs to keep them tidy and encourage fresh growth.
  • If hedges are looking untidy, give them a light trim, but always check for nesting wildlife first. Put supports in place early for plants like peonies and sweet peas so they grow naturally into them.
  • Protect young seedlings and soft new growth, especially hostas, from slugs using granules or barrier pellets. Warmer weather can bring sudden pest activity, so it’s worth checking plants regularly.

Looking After Wildlife

  • Help birds and other garden visitors by hanging feeders in trees and keeping bird baths clean and topped up. Leaving some grass longer through summer can also create shelter for insects and small animals.
  • Plant pollinator-friendly flowers such as coneflowers, lavender and wildflowers to support bees and butterflies. You could also make a simple bee bath using terracotta pots, shallow water and small stones.

Ready to make your garden flourish this May? Start now and enjoy a colourful, productive and wildlife-friendly outdoor space all season long.

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