Gardening jobs for May
In the garden we’re going to be busy this weekend preparing and planting another border, which will just about finish the planting of this phase. (I’m planning a couple of new borders across the front of the cottage for autumn). The plants are being stored in crates, and they dry out quickly in warm weather, so I really want to get them in the ground as soon as possible. It’s still very dry in our part of Lincolnshire, although I did get very excited on Thursday night driving home from a talk in Leasingham, near Sleaford when it started to rain. To the east I could see flashes of lightening and for several miles it rained lightly, but sadly when I got home it was bone dry! Because of the dry February, March and April some plants in the garden are starting to struggle in the dry soil, so I’m having to water just to keep them ticking over. No matter how much you water, it’s never the same as a good few showers of rain.
Although we need rain now to get the garden growing, I’m hoping we get a good summer with plenty of sunny days (and rain showers at night!) With that in mind I’ve just planted a drought tolerant container with a selection of plants that can withstand periods of drought. The idea came from RHS Harlow Carr where I was involved last year with a project with the garden team to plant several large pots using drought resistant plants. They were planted in late May and not watered again all summer. My pot is much smaller and will dry out faster so will need some water, but the plants won’t suffer too much if they have periods of no water. In the pot I’ve planted an Aloe striatula, Aeonium ‘Green Rose’, Echiveria ‘Duchess of Nuremberg’, Euphorbia myrsinites, Sedum and Delosperma.
Over the next few weeks I’ll protect the pot if frost is forecast and then the pot will be outside in a sunny spot until early autumn.
Jobs for May
Make sure any newly planted shrubs and perennials are thoroughly watered to help them settle in and establish. Water the soil around the plants and allow it to soak down to the roots.
Start supporting tall perennials before they get too tall and fall over, canes, twiggy sticks or plant supports are ideal.
Early spring flowering shrubs such as spiraea, forsythia, viburnum and ribes that flowered in March and April can be given a light prune if needed. Cut back some of flowering stems and weak growth. This will encourage new growth that will flower next year.
With it being so dry slugs and snails are not a problem, but once it does rain, they will be out looking for food, so be prepared. Organic slug pellets, beer traps or garlic spray can all be used.
From mid-May you can start planting tender bedding plants out into the garden. If planting in containers or hanging baskets, make sure they are kept frost free until the plants establish.
Established clumps of polyanthus and primroses can be divided once they have finished flowering. Re-plant, weather thoroughly and they will soon make new growth.
Check lilies for the red lily beetles which are very easy to spot and even more pleasurable to squash!
Tomato plants can be planted into a cold greenhouse or conservatory from early May, either in large pots or growbags, but remember on cold nights to drape some garden fleece over them. If planning to grow outside tomatoes on a patio wait until the end of May.
Earth-up potatoes into ridges and give them a feed of a granular fertiliser to help underground stems and tubers develop.
Pheromone traps to help control Codling moth on apples trees can be hung in the trees from the 3rd week of May. They will greatly reduce the amount of damage to the fruits.
There is still plenty of time to sow a wide range of vegetables such as carrots, beetroot, lettuce & salad leaves, runner and French beans and all brassicas.
We’re delighted that Kings Seeds are once again offering a 10% discount on seeds purchased from their web site www.kingsseeds.com by quoting the code PT2025. It’s valid until the end of 2025. (T&Cs apply)
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Happy gardening