May is when things really start looking up in our gardens. As the weather warms, the grass gets greener, the flowers bloom and the bees flock to our gardens in full swing.
Getting your garden ready for summer means starting early – and May is the best time to get to work. Our plants, shrubs and lawn all need maintenance in late spring to thrive during the hotter months.
If you want to prepare your outdoor space for summer, here’s a guide on what to do in the garden in May to keep things looking fresh.
Planting, Pruning & Growing: 5 Things to Do in the Garden in May
Trim Dying Flowers
Daffodils, Tulips and Pansies are spring bloomers, so your garden will typically be full of life between March and April if you have these plants in your garden.
But, as the weather warms in May, these flowers will likely start to wilt.
Even though they still look pretty, it’s best to trim off the heads now before they die out completely.
Removing the heads will shoot energy back into the bulbs, making your flowers even bigger and brighter next spring.
Top Up Soil in Flower Beds
If the soil has hardened or sunk along your flower beds, May is an excellent time to top-dress the ground.
Topdressing has so many benefits for your plants. It makes the soil richer and more porous, so you won’t need to fertilise, de-weed or water your plants as much during summer.
To top-dress your soil, simply spread a thin layer (between ½ inch or 1cm) of new soil, mulch, or compost along your flowerbeds.
Ideally, it’s best to do this after a week of no rain and just before it’s due to rain.
Prune the Shrubs
Most shrubs grow bigger and brighter in early spring. While you may be enjoying the extra foliage, pruning in May is the best thing you can do for your plants.
Shaping new growth when temperatures are still mild helps make way for even more foliage and flowers. It also prevents some shrubs from becoming tangled during summer.
When pruning your shrubbery, here’s a rough guide to follow:
- Lavender, Cistus, Rosemary and other Mediterranean shrubs: Prune into shape as needed
- Flowering shrubs, like Fuchsia and Buddleja: Cut right back to the base of the plant
- Ornamental grass, like Miscanthus: Remove brown stems to the base and leave any green stems behind
- Herbaceous perennials, like Sea Hollies and Thistles: Remove seedheads, stems and any brown leaves
Feed the Plants
Slow growth in your flower beds usually stems from poor soil quality. If you want your plants and shrubs to grow quicker during summer, May is the best time to get feeding.
Any flowers or shrubs will benefit from a feed-in May, including rose bushes and ericaceous plants, like Rhododendrons and Azaleas.
Feeding your plants in spring is especially important if your soil is clay, sand or chalk heavy. The fertiliser will help improve your soil quality and ensure your plants get the nutrition they need.
Re-start the Vegetable Patch
If you have a vegetable patch in your garden, May is an excellent time to restart the growing process.
Provided the weather isn’t too frosty, you can start growing:
- Lettuce
- Strawberries
- Leeks
- Broad beans
- Runner beans
- Onions
- Garlic
- Carrots
Some other veggies (like tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes and sweet peppers) can also be planted in May, but only if it’s not too cold. If you’re unsure whether the temperature is right, wait until the end of May or early June instead.