May is a wonderful month in the garden with the appearance of lush new growth and spring colour, but if April was a busy month then May will be even busier!
Appearing in the shops will be all kinds of colourful bedding plants, but be careful there will be cold nights for a while and these should not be safely planted outside until towards the end of next month. Those raised at home should be hardened off prior to bedding out. In contrast brussel sprout plants can now be planted out - they will be stronger plants for being out early, as they need a longer growing season. Remember to give them plenty of room, as it is easy when they are small to plant them too close. They really need 1 metre between each plant and the same distance between the rows. Outdoor chrysanthemums and dahlias can be planted out now too and summer hanging baskets can be planted up. When the first flower buds appear on tomato plants they are ready to be planted in the greenhouse; if you are not using growbags they will benefit from some well -rotted manure and a little sprinkling of bonemeal at planting time.
The sowing of half-hardy annuals can now begin, with mesembryathemums, nasturtium, ageratum and tagetes, being examples of those easy to grow plants, which will provide lovely summer colour. Sow seeds of biennials like sweet william and wallflowers, especially in the North as they will benefit from a slightly longer growing period. Continue successive sowings of beetroot, carrot, cabbage, radish, turnip, lettuce and peas (remembering to give the peas plenty of room) and sow autumn and spring broccoli. Why not try sowing something different this year, sweetcorn or endive perhaps, or some of the fashionable new salads like the pak choi I have just sewn? The earlier sowings of beetroot and carrot should be thinned appropriately.
There is some pruning to be done, not much, but after flowering, those lovely prolific clematis montana will benefit from some pruning, as also will the flowering currant. Box hedges and topiary can be trimmed lightly. Otherwise it is time for the hoe. Keep the weeds down in the vegetable garden by hoeing the onions and earthing up the potatoes. Those nasty weeds like bindweed and ground elder and nettles can be spot treated with herbicide. The lawns to will benefit from a weedkiller applied now. Those mixed with an all round fertiliser are very good but these, unlike spray herbicides, should be applied before the rain. Then after the rain has watered them in and the grass is dry the weekly mowing of lawns can continue.
As the rains allow the lush new growth to burst forth perennials will need staking, sweet peas will need tying in or supporting in some way. New growth on rambling and climbing roses will need training and support will be needed for the runner beans which can be sown later this month - as can the green beans. For some reason I find they germinate better in the greenhouse (more protection from predators and disease I suppose) and I then harden them off and transplant them later. I always sow a few extras at the end of the rows of runners as spares for any that don't germinate or die.
Cuttings can be taken from hydrangeas. Choose the non-flowering strong shoots - about 4-5 inches long. Pelargonium cuttings will also root as the temperatures rise. The sun is getting quite strong now so you will need to shade the greenhouse to protect plants like begonias, which will scorch easily. Remember to ventilate the greenhouse when it is warm and sunny.
Raspberries will be making strong growth. The strong suckers will provide next year's fruit but those weak ones could be thinned to allow more vigour to go into the ones you are keeping. Some fresh clean shiny straw put under the strawberries will look wonderful and prevent the fruit from getting dirty.
As the plants enjoy the warmth and rain, so do the pests and diseases! Carrots will need protection with fleece from the carrot fly, roses will need watching for aphid attack and spraying. Check for canker and blossom wilt on trees. As ever there will be hungry slugs and snails waiting for a feast on your newly germinated seedlings, and the birds will be watching your brassicas and fruits! And the green slimy blanketweed that appears in the pond should be removed by twisting it around a rake or a net.
Finally if there is a dry spell remember to water newly planted trees and shrubs and the actively growing vegetables. But most importantly take the time to stand back and enjoy it!
www.yourgardenneedsme.co.uk
