May is one of the finest months for gardeners, with longer daylight hours, more sunshine, and fresh growth emerging. This bank holiday weekend offers the perfect opportunity to get outside and tend to your garden. Paul Parker from J. Parker's gardening company has shared his top five jobs to complete this May.
Pinch Out Bedding Shoots
With new growth appearing, it's essential to stay on top of it. Paul advises: "When you spot new shoots on your bedding plants, you can get bigger, bushier blooms by pinching them out this month. Gently remove the top of the shoots using your fingernails at the next set of leaves down. Your bedding plants will quickly produce multiple new shoots for every shoot pinched out. Doing this now will give you an abundance of flowers in your summer beds and borders."
Plant Bulbs
If you haven't planted your bulbs yet, May is the ideal time. Paul says: "May is the best time to get them in pots or directly into the ground to avoid delayed flowers. Summer bulb varieties include cannas, dahlias, and begonias, and planting them now will fill your summer garden with colourful blooms from June through September. These tender bulbs should only be planted once the threat of frost has completely passed."
Harden Off Tender Perennials
If you've kept tender perennials indoors over winter, they need to be hardened off before moving outdoors. Paul explains: "During the day, while temperatures are warmer, start to move potted tender plants like dahlias outdoors. Then, in the evening, bring your plants back indoors to protect them from colder nights. Repeat this process for at least two weeks to give your plants the best chance of survival."
Prune Shrubs
After spring shrubs finish flowering, trim them back with sharp, clean secateurs to prevent disease. Paul says: "Pruning spring shrubs in May will help keep them compact and neat and avoid the leggy look when they flower again the following year."
Support Climbing Vines
Climbing varieties like clematis and wisteria grow vigorously in warmer weather, so proper support is crucial. Paul advises: "Use soft garden twine to gently tie new growth to fences, arches or trellises, guiding plants in your desired direction. Always secure stems loosely to allow room for continued growth."
