May Jobs
Garden Maintenance
Spring feels a little different this year, probably because we were so spoilt last year with such a hot Spring. But even so, May is filled with delight, with the month comes warmth and blossom. Now is a good time to mulch, to help seal in any moisture and help suppress weeds.
Flower Power
There are still a few seeds that are recommended you sow undercover, even in May such as;
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Foxglove
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Hollyhock
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Ipomoea
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Nicotiana
But there are plenty more that you can start sowing direct, like;
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Echinacea
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Forget-me-not
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Marigold
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Californian Poppy
Veg Plot
Keep a watchful eye over the night time temperatures but from May onwards is a good time to start sowing your veggies direct;
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Carrots
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Cauliflower
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Chicory
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Onions
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Salad Leaves
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Swede
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Swiss Chard
Depending on when you sowed, you could start enjoying harvesting these seasonal veg;
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Broad Beans
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Broccoli
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Lettuce
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Radish
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Spinach
Herbs
You can go crazy with herb sowing this month both under cover and direct;
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Chervil
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Coriander
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Hyssop
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Oregano
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Parsley
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Rosemary
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Sage
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Tarragon
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Thyme
Pruning
Making sure that all chance of frost has past, a few shrubs could benefit from a prune this month, such as;
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Spring flowering clematis
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Euonymous
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Forsythia
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Winter flowering Jasmine
But do make sure you take time to enjoy those that are coming into flower this month;
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Blackberry
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Gooseberry
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Pear
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Plum
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Summer fruiting raspberries
Nature
We are starting to see a flurry of activity in the garden now. More and more insects flooding in, making the very most of the early nectar available. But lets not forget that they need water too and a great way to provide this is a shallow saucer filled with water and pebbles, the pebbles offer them somewhere to rest on the surface of the water whilst they take a drink.
If you haven’t already put up bird boxes, it’s not too late. Also if you’re thinking of trimming evergreen hedges do make sure that you check that birds are not nesting in it first.