Jamie Shipley, gardening expert and managing director at Hedges Direct, said: “With more consistently warm temperatures, long Bank Holiday weekends and the promise of summer just around the corner, May is a great month to unlock your garden’s summer potential and get the jobs ticked off.
“It’s a great time to maximise your gardens’ impact before soaring temperatures prevent these tasks from getting done.
“Here are some jobs which need to be done this month.”
One of the top gardening jobs in May should be to prune back tender shrubs such as fuchsias and pelargoniums as well as penstemon and salvias.
Frost in May is very unlikely but do make sure to check the weather forces before pruning them.
The expert added: “You should leave pruning your spring-flowering shrubs and hedging such as chaenomeles until after flowering has finished.
“You can also prune evergreen hedging in late May to produce bushier growth – which is sometimes known as a ‘Chelsea chop’.
“One thing to keep in mind during May is that it’s nesting time for birds. Remember to check for anything that looks like it could be a home for our feathered friends and If you do find any signs of nesting, try to leave that plant and other surrounding plants undisturbed.
“Popular choices for nesting birds are pyracantha, honeysuckle, holly, ivy and blackthorn.”
Deadheading spring bulbs will also help them to last longer so make sure to pick off any spent flowers from tulips and daffodils.
According to the expert, deadheading, which is essentially a form of pruning, helps them to retain their vigour.
Flowers to plant out this month include tender perennials such as dahlias, begonias and petunias, planting them in a sheltered spot.
The garden pro continued: “Some of the best seeds to sow in May are spring flowering bedding plants for floral displays the following year and summer flowering annuals like cornflowers, sunflowers, nasturtiums, and poppies early in the month.
“The warm temperatures will help speed up the germination of wildflower seeds – which are a great way of attracting more wildlife to your garden, but May can be a dry month so make sure to stay on top of watering.”
Gardeners should also focus on the lawn this month as cutting it regularly will help to produce a “thick and lush” lawn. However, many may also be participating in “No Mow May” which is a great way to encourage wildlife into the garden.
The expert added: “Early May is also a great time to repair patches in your lawn by reseeding. It’s best to do this before summer, so the grass has plenty of time to establish itself before it is used regularly.
“Remember to fertilise your lawn with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser. If you do not want to use chemical fertilisers sow some clover into your lawn, which will help add nitrogen.”
