5 YEAR GUARANTEE Now that the subtle scent of spring is finally fading – the gardens are warming up and the herbaceous borders are starting to show signs of life. May is a great month to start to roll our sleeves up and get out into the garden and begin building this year’s display whilst also enjoying the warmer and longer days.
Things that you need to be doing this month…
- It is important to watch out for any late frosts that we may experience – be sure to protect any tender and vulnerable plants to keep them looking their best, by having some garden fleece to hand.
- Lift and divide any overcrowded clumps of spring bulbs and use the opportunity to add more of what you like around the garden.
- Plant out summer bedding into your tubs and containers to add some early summer colour to your gardens but be sure that the weather has warmed up in your area before you plant your bedding plants out in the garden border.
- Any twining climbers such as clematis and honeysuckle will need regular twining into supports or obelisks to avoid any damage as new shoots develop, use garden string to give them a helping hand.
- Now you should be planting your tomato plants and vegetable plants to enjoy bountiful crops this summer – be sure to pick up your tomato feed and cane supports to give yourself the best start.
- Lawns are on the agenda as this month brings warmer weather – begin to cut your lawns weekly being sure not to cut too short. Apply a high nitrogen summer lawn fertiliser to encourage a healthy looking lawn. If moss is a problem choose a combined fertiliser and moss killer when feeding the lawn or rake out the moss and fill the gaps with lawn seed.
- Sow seeds now such as sweetcorn, pumpkins and squash. The list of what you can sow now goes on and on but pop into store and see the choice for yourselves in our seed departments.
- Be sure to watch out for lily beetles around the garden as the grubs can destroy the foliage on your plants within days – you can’t miss them – they are bright red beetles that unlike our red friends the ladybirds – do more damage than good!
- Herbaceous borders are now starting to spring into action and now is a great time to look at your garden and see where you may have any potential gaps and fill them now so that all the plants grow together and ensure a full and colourful display.
- Plant up your hanging baskets now – the key to these is to make sure you give them the best head start by using tub and basket compost with water gel and fertiliser. When you have planted them do not hang up straight away but leave on an up-turned pot somewhere sheltered so that the plants get a chance to develop as wind damage can rock the plants and damage the roots before they have even had a chance.
- Fork fresh compost into flower beds to prepare the soil for summer bedding with a boost of feed and better water retention.
- Clip your buxus topiary to maintain a clean and crisp look as they now start to put on new foliage – this can be done twice in a season to keep your topiary tight and crisp. Also feed with a high nitrogen fertiliser to give them a boost and maintain the fresh green colour to the foliage.
- Hang pheromone traps in apple and plum trees from May to July, to control pests
- Pick off faded flowers from camellias/azaleas and rhododendrons, taking care not to damage the delicate new foliage.
- Keep feeding the birds as attracting them into the garden now will also help keep pests under control.
