May in the garden - Rhythms of Life

Ornamental Garden:

This month is a fast period of growth. Late frosts may catch early blooms – remove any damaged growth.
Keep on top of weeding.
Continue to remove spent flowers of spring bulbs but not the foliage until it has withered and yellowed.
Chelsea-chop time – If the nepeta and sedums are looking leggy then cutback by a third to encourage compact growth that will not collapse later in the season. This can be applied to the lavender, echinops, echinacea, aster, helenium and salvia too.
Trim rosemary, thyme and sage if not done in April.
Cutback withered daffodil or tulip stems once they have turned yellow.
Prune spring flowering clematis after it has flowered.
Stake and support herbaceous perennials if necessary.
If daffodils gave a poor show lift and divide bulbs and replant.
Continue deadheading spring bulbs.
Start hardening off tender plants for planting out.
Plant out dahlias towards the end of the month.
Protect new plants from hungry slugs and snails.

Harvest Asparagus.
Direct sow French beans and sweet corn if weather is warm enough.
Start earthing up potatoes.
Harvest early crops such as radish / lettuce etc.
Avoid planting tomatoes too early as they suffer if exposed to temperatures below 12°C.
Sow pumpkins, cucumbers, courgettes, squashes under cover now and outdoors towards the end of the month.
Lift and divide mint.
Mulch fruit plants

Other jobs around the garden:

Feed & mow established lawns.
Keep on top of weeds by regularly hoeing ground.
Keep the garden tidy and free of debris.
Keep on top of watering – if the weather is warm make sure to do this daily to ensure the ground isn’t dry.