May is here- hoorah! The temperatures are rising. The days are getting longer! Plants will subsequently be growing quicker and flowers will finally be blooming.
But our natural displays of beauty can only flourish so long as we keep up with our monthly gardening jobs.
Have a read of our list of important gardening jobs for you to complete this May.
Acclimate Plants
Also referred to as 'hardening-off', plants grown indoors or in greenhouses can now be acclimated to cooler temperatures. Start by putting your plants outside each day for around a few hours in a shielded location, making sure to gradually increase the hours. Make sure to protect your plants against the harsher weather with fleece as you complete this process. Monitor your plants over a few weeks, adjusting the hardening-off period in accordance with the weather and how the plants respond to it, before making the move to plant them outside.
Build a Meadow/Wildflower Patch
Before purchasing your seed mixes, ensure that the mixtures are appropriate for the soil you are using. Be sure to remove any weeds in your soil beforehand, raking it before spreading the seeds evenly and thinly. Afterwards, press them lightly into the soil and provide sufficient watering, especially during drier weather.
Ensure that the meadow/wildflower mixtures are appropriate for the soil you want to use.
Plant Feeding
Granular feeds can be applied to garden borders to help plants get off to a great start, and pots can start to be fed with a liquid feed to give them a boost. Plants such as Rhododendron and Camellia benefit from a top dressing of sulphate of iron in Spring, to maintain healthy growth and lush green foliage.
Plant up Bedding Plants
This is the time of year to get your hanging baskets and pot displays sorted to ensure a Summer filled with colour. Check your basket's soil regularly, making sure to water when the soil's dry. During the Summer, it is recommended you water the baskets daily. Regularly feed them also with liquid fertilisers like Miracle-Gro, doing so when the soil is moist and the plants are not drooping. When it comes to finding an ideal spot in your garden, keep your baskets positioned in a sunny but sheltered location. Consider an area that also shields the baskets from strong winds.
During Summer, it is best to water your hanging baskets daily.
Spring Bulb Maintenance
Remove any spent flowers from your Spring bulbs. This can be done by detaching any dead flower heads, which will prevent them from creating seeds and thus allow the bulb to put all their energy into ensuring next year’s bloom. Allow the foliage to die back naturally so that you have strong bulbs for the following Spring.
Plant Vegetable Seeds
Seeds, such as peas, radishes, lettuce and carrots, can be planted now. Using well-drained soil, make shallow trenches before scattering the seeds and covering them with a thin layer of soil. Water them regularly to ensure quick establishment, which will always lead to long-term success.
Make shallow trenches before scattering your seeds and covering them with a thin layer of soil.
And that's it for now, folks! Should you require any other gardening advice, be sure to pay us a visit at Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre. Our top horticultural professionals will give you the best tips to ensure your garden thrives this Spring and Summer.
See you again soon!