What to do in the garden in May?

ASPRES GRASSE NURSERY 2024 ALPES MARITIMES GARDEN CENTER

Traditionally opened by lily of the valley, the month of May announces the height of spring! Plants grow visibly with the fine weather. A few rains punctuate the month around mid-May but we are already gradually heading towards summer. The days are getting longer and temperatures easily exceed 25 degrees! The flowers offer a symphony of colors and scents: anemones, imperial fritillaries, columbines, bellflowers, Bittersweet, irises, lupins, peonies... not to mention the flowering of shrubs such as laburnum, ceanothus, deutzia, magnolia and lilac! Sowing flowers and vegetables, taking cuttings of shrubs, pruning fruit trees, maintaining chilly plants placed in the garden, mowing the lawn are all on the agenda! Here are our tips and tricks for the month of May!

May is the time when the garden is in full swing. Mild temperatures, longer days and the return of sunny days create ideal conditions for plant growth. It is a pivotal month for gardeners, with many tasks to complete to ensure a thriving garden and a productive vegetable patch. May is also the time when the last frosts have passed in most regions, allowing time to plant more sensitive species and prepare the garden for summer.

Sowing and planting in open ground

In May, you can finally plant indoor plants such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other seasonal vegetables in the open ground. These fruit vegetables, which require good sunlight and mild temperatures, will find optimal conditions for their growth. Courgettes, cucumbers, beans and melons can also be sown directly in the open ground if the temperatures are mild enough. In the vegetable garden, it is also a good time to sow root vegetables, such as carrots, beets and turnips, which will appreciate the warmed soil. Lettuces, radishes and spinach can be sown at regular intervals for a continuous harvest throughout the summer. May is therefore the perfect month to diversify crops and prepare the vegetable garden to produce a wide variety of vegetables.

Planting summer flowers

May is also the ideal month to plant summer flowers, which will bring colour and life to the garden throughout the summer season. Annuals such as begonias, cosmos, zinnias and nasturtiums can be planted in clumps or pots to beautify flowerbeds and terraces. Perennials such as dahlias, daylilies and rudbeckias can also be planted in the ground for abundant flowering throughout the summer. Gardeners can also plant summer bulbs, such as gladioli and lilies, which will bring touches of colour and verticality to the clumps. By combining different varieties, you can create harmonious and colourful floral arrangements that will attract pollinators and birds.

Caring for the lawn

May is a good time to tend to your lawn, which experiences strong growth in the spring. After mowing the grass to a reasonable height to strengthen the blades, it is useful to scarify the lawn to aerate the soil and remove moss and thatch. An application of nitrogen-rich fertilizer at the beginning of the month will help to thicken the lawn and give it a bright green. If bare areas appear, they can be reseeded in May to restore a uniform carpet.

Trim and maintain shrubs and hedges

In May, some shrubs and hedges need pruning to maintain a beautiful structure and promote harmonious flowering. Spring-flowering shrubs, such as forsythias, can be pruned just after flowering to encourage the development of new shoots. Roses, on the other hand, appreciate a light pruning and a supply of fertilizer to promote bud growth and disease resistance. Hedges, whether decorative or protective, can also be pruned in May to maintain a beautiful density and a neat shape. Pruning at this time allows new shoots to develop quickly, ensuring a lush hedge throughout the summer.

Mulch and water wisely

With the arrival of hot days, mulching becomes essential to preserve soil moisture and limit the growth of weeds. A layer of mulch around vegetables, flowers and shrubs helps keep the soil cool and reduce watering. Natural materials, such as straw, wood chips or dead leaves, are ideal for this technique. Watering, in May, also becomes a more regular task, especially for young plants. It is advisable to water early in the morning or at the end of the day, so that the water has time to penetrate the soil without evaporating too quickly. By avoiding watering in the middle of the day, we also limit the risk of leaf burn.

Monitor and protect against pests

With the return of mild temperatures, pests such as aphids, slugs and caterpillars are making an appearance in the garden. Young shoots are particularly vulnerable, and it is therefore important to regularly monitor plants to detect the first signs of infestation. Natural solutions, such as nettle manure against aphids or ash barriers to keep slugs away, can be used to limit pests. Installing companion plants, such as marigolds or nasturtiums, can also help repel certain pests and attract beneficial insects to the garden, such as ladybugs, which feed on aphids.

In May, the garden is bursting with life and growth. Between planting, sowing, pruning and caring for young plants, this month requires special attention but also a lot of fun. By preparing the garden well now, the gardener ensures a green, flourishing and abundant space for the whole summer. May is a key month to enjoy the beautiful season in a garden overflowing with colors and flavors.