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As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, May is one of the most exciting and productive months in the gardening calendar. Whether you’re cultivating a vegetable patch, nurturing flower beds, or tending to container plants, now is the time to lay the groundwork for a vibrant and successful growing season. Here are 10 essential garden tasks to tackle this May:
1. Plant Summer-Flowering Annuals
Now is the perfect time to plant vibrant summer bloomers like petunias, marigolds, cosmos, and zinnias. These annuals thrive in the warming soil and will provide color all season long. Be sure to harden off any greenhouse-grown seedlings before planting them outdoors.
2. Sow Warm-Weather Vegetables
With the risk of frost mostly behind us, May is ideal for sowing beans, sweetcorn, courgettes, pumpkins, and salads directly into the ground. If you’re in a cooler region, start them indoors or under cloches for a head start.
3. Prune Spring-Flowering Shrubs
Once shrubs like forsythia, lilac, or flowering currant have finished blooming, prune them back to encourage healthy new growth and better flowering next year. Cut back about one-third of the old wood to keep the plant in shape.
4. Feed Hungry Plants
Plants entering a growth spurt need plenty of nutrients. Feed flowering plants and vegetables with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer, or use a tomato feed for fruiting crops. Regular feeding will encourage strong growth and abundant blooms.
5. Stay on Top of Weeding
Weeds thrive in the same conditions as our prized plants. Keep them in check by hoeing regularly, hand-pulling before they set seed, or mulching beds with compost or bark to suppress new growth.
6. Mulch Flower Beds and Veggie Plots
Mulching conserves moisture, reduces weeds, and improves soil structure. Apply a generous layer of well-rotted compost, leaf mold, or straw around your plants—but avoid covering the stems directly.
7. Watch for Pests and Diseases
May is when common pests like aphids, slugs, and vine weevils become active. Check plants regularly for signs of trouble. Encourage natural predators, use organic treatments, or try barriers and traps as needed.
8. Support Climbing Plants
Climbing plants like sweet peas, clematis, runner beans, and cucumbers need support as they grow. Install canes, trellises, or netting early to avoid damaging roots later and to encourage strong vertical growth.
9. Lawn Care
If you have a lawn, now’s the time to feed, weed, and mow. Apply a spring lawn feed, remove moss or thatch, and mow regularly—but not too short. Consider leaving a patch uncut for wildlife!
10. Plan for Pollinators
Plant nectar-rich flowers like foxglove, lavender, alliums, and wildflowers to attract bees and butterflies. A pollinator-friendly garden is not only beautiful, but it also supports biodiversity and healthy crops.
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May is a month full of promise in the garden. A little effort now will pay off handsomely as the season progresses. Whether you’re growing food, flowers, or both, these essential tasks will help your garden thrive throughout the summer months.
