Herbaceous borders will now start to grow in leaps and bounds, indicating summer has finally arrived. Sowing and planting out bedding plants can begin, weather permitting. Now is the time to start taking softwood cuttings. It's also time to start cutting lawns on a regular basis. At this time of year we could have already experienced summer heat, which has brought plants on faster than usual, but there can still be early morning frosts which can damage plants when cuttings are taken.
Jobs For May
- Protect tender plants from late frosts (possibly to mid-May).
- Plant out summer bedding at the end of the month (in warmer areas)
- Start watering plants, preferable in the early morning or late evening.
- Keep on top of those weeds.
- Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days
- Mow lawns weekly if you like them really neat, otherwise every other week so wildlife can enjoy your lawn and give wild flowers a chance to become established.
- Clip hedges if there are no signs of nesting birds
- Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs
- Keep an eye out for pests on plants.
- Once the last frosts have cleared it's time to cut back Penstemons, divide any congested roots and harvest shoots from the cut off branches. My mother never cuts back her Penstemons and lets the woody parts drop off naturally, and her Penstemons look magnificent. As I live in a far windier area, mine look ugly so I always cut them back once I spot sufficient new growth at the base.
- Now is the time to take cuttings or split plants such as penstemons, bleeding hearts, cranesbills geraniums, geum, campanula and Erysimum.
- Once buddleias are leafing and the last frost are over with, it's time to cut them back. They are usually the last plant in your garden to start growing new leaves in spring. Cut them back hard, taking off all but three of last seasons growth.
More articles about wildlife gardening:
1. How to attract birds to your garden
2. How to attract bees to your garden
3. Sowing and growing wildflowers
