May is a hugely busy time to be in the garden. After the very dry April we’ve had, it makes itmore challenging when the ground is so arid and hard. I’ve had to keep borders watered sothat tulips aren’t stunted, which can happen, and so that the outdoor seeds I’ve sown have afighting chance!Frosts can still be an issue early in the month, so I tend to keep tender perennials undercover until towards the end before I plant outside, until risk of frost has passed, and protectany susceptible veg, such as potatoes, with horticultural fleece.
In the garden
Summer bedding can be planted out when temperaturesallow. Pelargonium and Begonia are favourites of mine to addzingy colours and interesting shapes to front of border. Someof the varieties available now have equally showy leaves asthey do flowers, are drought-tolerant and are not the old-fashioned standard bedding that were grown many yearsago. The Rex or Regal varieties of Begonia are particularlystriking.Annuals such as poppies can be sown straight in to fill spacesthat may have housed forget-me-nots. I always shake a fewseeds back down for next year after i pull these pretty littleblue flowers up. Dahlia and Canna can be planted out now,and I always dig a bigger hole and backfill with compost togive them a good start.Shoots from cllimbers, for example clematis and honeysuckle,can be tied in and any Spring-flowering shrubs can be prunedback. Pests such as lily beetle and slugs will now start showingup and should be dealt with straight away!
In the Veg Patch
Potatoes need to be earthed up and fed with a good potato fertiliser. The last of the summer crops, courgette, squashand beans should be sown by the end of the month ready for planting out next month, and greenhouse crops, such astomatoes and cucumber love a feed every couple of weeks to ensure a good fruit!
Happy gardening!
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