The Gardeners Almanac

The place to find out what to do in the garden this week
My Back Garden

Miscellaneous Tasks in May

Overview:

The tasks listed below may have to take second place to the planting out of flowers and vegetables elsewhere in the garden this month.

Meaning, it will be a case of fitting them in as and when you can!.


Note: As with most advice on gardening the advisors location will often influence the content of the advice.

To alleviate this problem I have produced this chart indicating how you can make adjustments to the timing of events as seen in this website.

I hope you find this useful! .......Tg


At any time this month:

Mow lawn if conditions allow and remove weeds as necessary.

Remove any weeds that have formed since winter digging was completed.

As the soil and weather warms up Slugs and Snails can be come a propblem if allowed, treat as required.

Similarly garden pests such as Aphids will also be emerging so treat accordingly.

Precautions should be taken for plant diseases such as: Black spot, Mildew, and Rust.

Stock ponds with fish if you were unable to do it last month.

Rejuvenate decking by blasting away algal growth with a pressure washer.

Once deck is dry sand down if necessary, and apply a preservative.

Place maturing seedlings in coldframe to harden off.


Week 18 - 30th Apr. to 5th May.

Weed around the root area of established trees such as Abies and apply an annual dressing of balanced fertilizer and a deep mulch.

Place maturing seedlings in coldframe to harden off.

Open Coldframe lids on warm sunny days.

Tie in climbers as necessary.

Support Althaea.

Install a submersible pump or elodea canadensis (Canadian Pondweed) to help to keep ponds aerated.

Consider erecting a sturdy barrier around /over pond to prevent children falling in.


Week 19 - 6th May. to 12th May.

Place maturing seedlings in coldframe to harden off.


Week 20 - 13th May. to 19th May.

Tidy up Rockery.

Divide overcrowded Aquatic plants.

Fork / Rake in a fertiliser dressing around the base of hedges and established shrubs.

Mulch around Alpines, Fruit trees and shrubs.

Remove Spring bulb foliage if it has died back.

Plant summer bulbs, corms and tubers in pots in preparatiion for for transplanting later.

Tidy up spreading perennial groundcover plants.

Treat moss in lawns.

Place maturing seedlings in coldframe to harden off.


Week 21- 20th May. to 26th May.

Place maturing seedlings in coldframe to harden off.

Place collars made from roofing felt or carpet underlay around brassicas to deter Root fly.


Week 22 - 27th May. to 2nd Jun.

Pot up a few bedding plants to use as gap fillers to replace plants that may have died off.

Grow them on in in the Coldframe or a sheltered spot till required.

Place maturing seedlings in coldframe to harden off.