Monthly Garden Advice for May
Hanging Baskets and Containers
Plant up now to put out once risk of frost is over. Select from the wide range of 9cm pots now available. For bushy upright growth for the middle of the container select from bush Fuchsias, Zonal Geraniums, Argyranthemums, Osteospermums and Surfinia. There are lots of trailing varieties available e.g. Surfinia, Ivy Geranium, Bacopa,Diascia, Million Bells and Bidens. Pinch early growth to encourage bushy plants
Lawns
with the warmer weather weed growth will now be more susceptible to selective lawn weedkillers. ‘Lawn Clear’ may help to control speedwell and other more difficult weeds in the lawn. Aftercut is a safe feed product and applied after mowing will maintain the health and colour of your lawn without the need for watering it in.
Spring Flowering Shrubs
can be pruned after flowering to encourage strong new growth e.g. Forsythia, Ribes, Weigelia, Choisya. This will carry flowers next year. Apply a general feed and mulch to suppress weeds and conserve moisture.
Helping the Environment
Reduce your carbon footprint by planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide is one way of helping. Trees also help to provide structure in the garden or provide a focal point or wonderful fresh fruit to eat. Apples, pears, plum and cherry may be planted now. Others to consider are Crab Apples, Rowans, Scarlet Thorns, Amelanchier and Flowering Cherries.
Quick Tips
- protect young foliage from slugs with advanced organic slug killer or copper rings or tape around pots.
- now is a good time to repot, pot-on or top dress houseplants with fresh compost.
- plant pond perennials in aquatic baskets
