In the UK, May is a busy and rewarding month for gardeners as the risk of frost diminishes and plants burst into growth. Here are the key gardening jobs for May:
🌿 General Garden Maintenance
- Weed regularly – Weeds grow rapidly now, so keep beds clear.
- Mulch borders – Suppress weeds and retain moisture.
- Water newly planted shrubs, trees, and perennials – Especially during dry spells.
- Support plants – Stake tall perennials and climbers early before they flop.
🌱 Sowing and Planting
- Sow hardy annuals like cornflowers, poppies, and nigella outdoors.
- Sow tender vegetables such as courgettes, squash, runner beans, and sweetcorn.
- Plant out summer bedding (mid-late May, after frost risk).
- Plant potatoes (maincrop if not done in April).
- Sow salads like lettuce, rocket, radish, and spring onions for succession.
🍅 Greenhouse / Indoor Jobs
- Harden off seedlings gradually before planting outside.
- Plant tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers in greenhouse or outside in warm spots.
- Open vents and doors in the greenhouse to improve airflow.
🌸 Flowers and Ornamentals
- Deadhead spring bulbs but leave the foliage to die back naturally.
- Divide and replant spring-flowering perennials.
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs (like forsythia or chaenomeles) once flowering is over.
- Sow biennials like foxgloves and wallflowers for next year.
🍓 Fruit & Veg
- Protect fruit blossom from late frost with fleece if needed.
- Thin fruit on trees like apples and pears if setting heavily.
- Net soft fruit (like strawberries, currants) to protect from birds.
- Feed fruit bushes and trees with high-potash fertiliser.
🌾 Lawns
- Mow regularly – Adjust height depending on weather.
- Feed lawn with spring/summer fertiliser.
- Overseed bare patches if not too dry.
🐛 Pest & Disease Watch
- Watch for slugs and snails – especially on young plants.
- Look for aphids on roses and tender shoots.
- Check for lily beetles and their larvae on lilies.
- Keep an eye out for powdery mildew in dry weather.
