Garden Jobs for May Day

Planting and preparation

Planting your Dig Instant Bed: If you’ve recently ordered some plants from Dig (or indeed anywhere else) make sure to get them into the ground or a pot as soon as you can. As the weather warms up, they will dry out quickly in their respective containers – and you also want to maximise your enjoyment of them and give them as much time as possible to establish and fill out.

Summer bulbs: If you’re looking to add a bit of cheap, additional summer colour to your bed, there is still time to plant Lillies, Gladioli and Dahlias into the gaps in your flower beds. With enough sunlight, you can expect beautiful late summer colour far more affordably than buying full grown versions when the time comes in July and August.

With their spires of beautiful blooms, Gladioli make excellent cut flowers too.

Scattering seeds: Flowering plants like sunflowers, nasturtiums, zinnias, calendula, and cornflowers can all be scattered in sunny pots and sunny flower beds in May for decent colour in a few months time. They will grow quickly in May and make for another cheap yet satisfying display.

Cornflowers do well in sunny spots. Scatter seeds now for the best results.

Climbing colour: It’s not to late to plant Sweetpeas, to add some beautiful climbing colour to your garden or balcony. They will need sun but a tray of seedlings from your local garden centre will go a huge way in adding beautiful colour for the garden, and indoors with cut flowers. Plant at the base of an obelisk in the soil or a pot, or against a trellis on a sunny wall for the best results. 

Maintenance and support

High stakes: Giving top-heavy plants some additional support is often a necessary step to avoid the disappointment that many gardeners will have felt returning home from work only to find the wind has toppled over a Dahlia, or the weight of a top-heavy Hydrangea has caused it to snap under the strain. Whether with simple bamboo canes, or more permanent support structures, giving a plant something to grow against, or to lean on, will often be worthwhile.

Dahlias, with their often heavy flowers, can be prone to drooping. Support them as they grow to avoid accidents.

Deadheading: Don’t forget to deadhead the last of the spring flowers from bulbs like tulips. Once the flowers have finished, remove the heads, but not the leaves, which allows the plant to photosynthesize the energy from the sun right back into the bulb for a strong display next year.

Feed your pots: Many plants remain very happy in pots year to year, but it’s a great idea to top up the top layer of soil with fresh compost each spring. If soil has compacted, or dried and been blown loose by the wind, used your hands to remove the top layer of lose soil – being careful not to damage any plants that might be slowly emerging underneath – and refill with a fresh dose of peat-free compost. The nutrients in the fresh soil will give your old plants a boost, and keep them happy for another season.

Gardening for nature

• Check your hedges: Before any light tidying of shrubs, take careful look inside to ensure no birds are nesting. If you see a nest, leave that area of the garden well alone until the chicks have fledged.

• Hydration Stations + some important RSPB advice: Place a shallow saucer of water on the ground with a few flat stones popping out. This creates a safe “landing pad” for thirsty bees and butterflies to drink without falling in. For birds, a good old fashioned bird bath will do. Or a plant tray. Or a shallow bowl. Honestly, anything a bird can fit in. Crucially however, especially after new guidance from the RSPB on bird health, make sure you’re cleaning your bird bath regularly. At least a couple of times a week. This will help combat the diseases and infections that are being seen to spread among British birdlife at the moment – while also helping to keep them hydrated during a time when many will be raising young. The same rule applies to bird feeders. For more information about the new guidance for gardeners, click here.
• Peat-Free Living: When topping up your pots or planting your new bulbs, always reach for peat-free compost. Most garden centres and supermarkets will now stock peat-free, if not sell it entirely, but it’s still always worth checking. Peat-free compost is a simple switch that protects our planet’s most important carbon-storing habitats.