CURRENT MOON

The Gardener's Almanac

For information on what to do in your garden this week!

Ornamental garden in May

At any time this month;

Watch out for destructive red lily beetles, which are now active.

Support tall perennials where necessary.

Keep up with the dead heading of spring flowering subjects such as;azaleas, camellias, narcissus, rhododendrons and tulips.

Add humus making material to beds in preparation for summer bedding plants.

Plant out pot-grown shrubs, roses and perennials.

Thin out congested growth on water lilies and aquatic plants.

Week 18 - 30th to 5th

If not already done top dress flower beds with a general fertiliser in readiness for planting out.

Cut down Penstemon if not done last October.

Lift and divide Platycodon & Snowdrops.

Prepare beds for Disbud,Spray Chrysanthemums & Dianthus.

Trim Buxus (Box) Ceanothus, Cortaderia, Hebe & Jasmine nudiflorum if required.

Plant out Althaea, Choisya, Cistus, Delphiniums, Gladioli & Gunnera if conditions allow.

Mulch Abies, Lonicera (Honeysuckle) & Meconopsis.

Pot up Arctotis.

Feed Abies, Echinecea, Geranium & Kniphofia.

Keep an eye open for Lupin aphids.

Week 19 - 6th to 12th

If not already done prepare Dahlia beds including checking the soil pH.

Plant out Penstemon cuttings.

Trim Fatsia japonica shrubs.

Week 20 - 13th to 19th

Plant out; Asarina, Catananche, Chrysanthemums, (Disbuds) Chrysanthemum, (Sprays) Clarkia, Helianthus, Lily, Lupins & Viola.

Lift and pot up self seeded Lunaria.

Cut back Narcissii leaves to ground level providing the leaves have started to die back.

Lift Narcissii bulbs if required.

Pot up rooted Buxus (Box) cuttings.

Feed & mulch Hamamelis.

Spray Roses.

Spray climbers if necessary.

Commence spray chrysanthemum stopping programme.

Divide Gunnera & Saxifraga.

Pinch out Actinidia.

Week 21 - 20th to 26th

Layer Wisteria.

Divide and replant poppies.

Lift tulip bulbs.

Watch out for signs of leaf spot and rhizome rot on bearded (flag) irises.

Prepare planting sites for bedding plants.

When all fear of late frost has passed, plant out; Agastache, Agrostemma, Annual Chrysanthemum, Anomathica, Callistephus,(Aster) Calendula, Candytuft, Carnations, Centaurea, Dianthus, Echium, Eschscholzia, Gaillardia, Godetia, Gypsophila, Helichrysum, Iberis, Lavatera, Limnanthes, Limonium, Linaria, Lobelia, Lychnis, Mimulus, Mina lobata, Nasturtium, Nemophila, Nicotiana, Nigella, Nolana, Orache, Papaver/Poppy, Phlox, Portulaca, Reseda, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Schizanthus, Silene, Verbena & Zinnia.

Place Camellias outdoors for the summer months.

Week 22 - 27th to 2nd

When all fear of late frost has passed, plant out; African Marigold, Ageratum, Alstroemeria, Alyssum, Amaranthus, Antirrhinum, Arctotis, Balsam, Brachycome, Celosia, Cerinthe, Convolvulus, Cosmos, Dahlias, French Marigold, Gazania, Gerbera, Impatiens, Ipomea, Iris, Laurentia, Lewisia, Mesembryanthemum, Nemesia, Nerium, Osteospermum, Pansy, Passiflora & Tagetes.

Carefully hoe around Gladioli when they emerge.

Thin out Choisya if required.

Cut back Aubretia.

Pot up spare Dahlia to grow on as 'pot tubers'

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