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Essential Gardening Tasks to Tackle This May

  • Writer: Sarah Kay
    Sarah Kay
  • 4 days ago
  • 1 min read
Close-up of green vine with clusters of pink and purple buds and large leaves. Wooden fence background provides a natural setting.

May has arrived, bringing gardening season with it. With longer days and warmer sunshine, it's the perfect time to prepare your garden for summer dining and entertaining.


  1. Tie in Climbers

    This month, your climbers will experience substantial growth. Use twine to tie them to wires or a trellis, and keep the stems as horizontal as possible to promote more flowering.


  1. Prune Spring shrubs


    White flowers with yellow centers and green leaves, set against a lush green background. The mood is fresh and serene.
    Choisya ternata in my E5 garden

This month, lightly prune spring-flowering shrubs like Choisya and Forsythia after they finish blooming. You can expect Choisya to produce another set of flowers later in the season.


  1. Clean up your pond

Metal tub pond with water plants, surrounded by ferns and brick wall. Green leaves, natural and serene garden setting.
Wildlife pond in my E5 garden

Use a sieve to eliminate pond weed, algae, and blanket weed from your ponds. Ensure you place any removed debris by the pond's edge so that any creatures can return to the water.


  1. Monitor for aphids

    Yellow and peach roses with green leaves against a wooden fence, creating a serene natural scene. A wire runs horizontally through them.
    Rosa Ghislaine de Feligonde in my N12 Dog Friendly Garden

    Inspect new growth on roses for aphids and either remove them by hand or use an organic spray. Whenever possible, cultivate plants that attract aphid predators like ladybirds or hoverflies, such as umbellifers like Achillea or Angelica.


5 No mow May (June, July, August, September, October)

Sunny garden with lush greenery, flowers, and a metal sculpture. Wooden fence and patio furniture in the background. Peaceful atmosphere.
Lawn in my E11 Naturalistic Planting Design

Traditionally, May is considered the 'no mow' month for your lawn. However, I suggest taking it a step further by replacing your lawn with a nature-friendly tapestry or wildflower lawn. This alternative demands significantly less maintenance and supplies nectar for insects all year round.

A patchy green lawn with small flowers, surrounded by plants. A concrete path on the right leads to stairs, creating a calm garden scene.
Tapestry lawn in my E11 Naturalistic Planting Design

Delight in the garden during May!

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