May is when gardens really start to wake up — fresh growth is everywhere, flowers are bursting into bloom, and summer feels just around the corner.
It’s a busy and exciting month for gardeners, and a bit of effort now will set your outdoor space up beautifully for the season ahead.
Here’s your essential May garden checklist to keep everything growing strong and looking fantastic.
1. Embrace No Mow May
If you’re taking part in No Mow May, now’s the time to put away the mower and let your lawn grow wild!
✅ Benefits of No Mow May:
- Provides nectar-rich flowers like dandelions and clover for pollinators.
- Creates habitat for insects, frogs, and birds.
- Helps biodiversity without any extra effort!
🌿 Tip: If you like a tidy look, mow neat edges and paths through your wild areas for a managed feel.
2. Keep on Top of Lawn Care (If You’re Mowing)
If you’re mowing as normal:
✅ Mow weekly, gradually lowering the blades as growth speeds up.
✅ Apply a spring-summer fertiliser to keep the grass lush and green.
✅ Water during dry spells, especially after feeding or seeding.
✅ Deal with weeds early by hand-pulling or spot-treating.
🌿 Tip: Raise your mower blades during very dry periods to avoid stressing the grass.
3. Sow and Plant for Summer Colour
May is prime planting time for flowers!
✅ Sow directly outdoors:
- Cosmos
- Sunflowers
- Marigolds
- Nasturtiums
- Zinnias
✅ Plant out:
- Summer bedding plants like petunias, geraniums, and begonias (once the last frost has passed).
- Dahlias and gladioli from tubers and corms.
🌿 Tip: Harden off any plants raised indoors before planting them outside.
4. Grow Your Own Food
Your veg patch should be buzzing with activity now.
✅ Direct sow outdoors:
- Beetroot
- Carrots
- French beans
- Sweetcorn
- Salad leaves
- Spinach
✅ Plant out:
- Courgettes, pumpkins, and squash
- Tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers (in greenhouses or outside after frosts)
🌿 Tip: Mulch around young plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
5. Prune and Train for Stronger Plants
✅ Tie in climbers like clematis, sweet peas, and honeysuckle as they shoot up.
✅ Prune spring-flowering shrubs like forsythia, chaenomeles (flowering quince), and early spirea after they finish blooming.
✅ Deadhead daffodils and tulips, but leave the foliage to die back naturally.
🌿 Tip: Light summer pruning now means less hard work later in the season.
6. Support Wildlife in Your Garden
✅ Keep bird feeders topped up — many birds are feeding their chicks now.
✅ Provide clean, fresh water for birds, bees, and other creatures.
✅ Leave some untidy corners for insects, hedgehogs, and other wildlife.
🌿 Tip: Plant bee-friendly flowers like foxgloves, alliums, and aquilegia to help pollinators.
7. Prep Patios and Outdoor Spaces for Summer
✅ Jet wash patios, decking, and garden furniture ready for BBQs and gatherings.
✅ Repaint fences and sheds while the weather is dry.
✅ Refresh pots and hanging baskets with colourful summer flowers.
🌿 Tip: Add solar lights now so you can enjoy longer evenings outside.
8. Watch for Pests and Problems
May is when garden pests start becoming active.
✅ Check roses for aphids — squash by hand or spray with soapy water.
✅ Keep an eye out for slugs and snails, especially after rain.
✅ Protect vulnerable crops like lettuces and strawberries with organic slug barriers or wildlife-friendly pellets.
🌿 Tip: Encouraging natural predators like ladybirds and frogs is the best pest control long-term.
May Garden Jobs at a Glance
| Task | Action |
|---|---|
| Lawn care | Mow regularly, fertilise, water if dry |
| Planting flowers | Sow annuals, plant bedding & bulbs |
| Growing vegetables | Sow and plant out tender crops |
| Pruning | Spring shrubs and climbers |
| Wildlife support | Provide food, water, and shelter |
| Garden maintenance | Clean patios, furniture, and repaint structures |
Final Thought: May is the Month of Growth!
Your garden is bursting with potential in May. With a bit of time and care now, you’ll be rewarded with lush lawns, vibrant flowers, homegrown veggies, and a garden full of buzzing life all summer long.
Need a Hand Getting Your Garden Ready?
At Project Garden, we offer expert lawn care, planting, pruning, jet washing, and garden tidy-up services to help you enjoy a stress-free and beautiful outdoor space.
📞 Call 07795 800 772
📧 Email info@projectgarden.co.uk
Let’s make this your best garden season yet!