May is one of the most exciting months in the gardening calendar. The risk of frost is largely behind us, the days are longer and warmer, and your garden is bursting into life. It’s a busy time, but also one filled with promise and colour.
Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or a weekend potterer, here’s your list of essential garden jobs to get to grips with this month.
Plant out summer bedding
Now that the danger of frost has (mostly) passed, it’s safe to plant out summer bedding plants. Think geraniums, petunias, begonias, and lobelia. These will add colour to borders, containers, and hanging baskets all summer long.
Top Tip: Harden off plants by gradually acclimatising them to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days before planting out.
Sow tender crops outdoors
With the soil warmed up, you can now sow tender crops like courgettes, pumpkins, French beans, and sweetcorn directly into the ground. Make sure you choose a sunny, sheltered spot and keep seedlings protected from slugs.
Feed hungry plants
Give your plants a boost! Roses, fruit bushes, perennials, and vegetables will all benefit from a feed. Use a general-purpose fertiliser or a specific one depending on the plant (e.g. tomato feed for fruiting plants).
Keep on top of weeds!
Weeds love May’s combination of warmth and moisture. Regular hoeing or hand-weeding can stop them from taking over your beds and borders.
Top Tip: Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds- great for borders and veg beds.
Lawn care
May is a key time for lawn maintenance. Mow regularly, but don’t cut too short. If your lawn is looking tired, consider feeding it with a nitrogen-rich lawn fertiliser.
Feeling eco-conscious? Join the No Mow May movement and let your grass grow wild to help bees and other pollinators thrive.
Support tall and climbing plants
Put in plant supports now before growth gets too advanced. Peonies, delphiniums, and sweet peas all benefit from a bit of structure to keep them upright.
Prune spring flowering plants
As soon as spring-flowering shrubs like forsythia, chaenomeles, and flowering currants finish blooming, prune them back to encourage healthy growth and better flowering next year.
Watch for pests
Keep an eye out for early infestations of aphids, slugs, and snails. Use environmentally friendly controls where possible – like companion planting, barriers, and hand-picking.
Plant dahlias and summer bulbs
Now’s the time to plant out dahlia tubers and other tender summer-flowering bulbs like gladioli. These will bring stunning late-summer colour to your garden.
Keep watering newly planted areas
As the weather warms up, water becomes more important—especially for young plants, containers, and hanging baskets. Water early in the morning or late in the evening to minimise evaporation.
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