In the garden - May
Written by Daily Fix - Published 01-May-2019, last updated 21-Jun-2024
For many gardeners, May heralds the start of the gardening season. The days are getting longer, the temperatures are rising (hopefully!), Spring is making way for Summer and trees are in full leaf.
Don't be fooled into thinking it's all sunshine from hereon in though. Late frosts are still a possibility so be prepared to protect tender plants should the need arise.
Be prepared for late frosts
Don't let the May sunshine fool you into thinking you've seen the last of the frosts until autumn. Mother Nature has a habit of throwing the odd curve-ball to keep gardeners on their toes!
Frosts can affect many plants, and cold snaps can be particularly damaging to tender new growth and blossom that's appeared in the garden in the spring. The risks of frost damage can be reduced by taking some simple steps to protect the plants in your garden including seeking out plants that are reliably hardy, growing tender plants against a south-facing wall, mulching the root area tender shrubs and perennials with a thick layer of organic matter to prevent the ground becoming frozen and moving containers to a sheltered part of the garden.
And have some horticultural fleece to hand, ready to deploy if frost is forecast.
Don't let the greenhouse overheat
As well at protecting plants from late frosts, at the other end of the temperature scale you need to ensure you don't let the greenhouse overheat on warm May days (we told you Mother Nature keeps you on your toes!
Greenhouses and polytunnels can get surprisingly warm as their glass heats up the inside like... well like a greenhouse!
Open greenhouse doors and window/roof vents on warm days to increase air curculation, and consider using shading to help keep temperatures at a level that isn't going to kill your plants.
Shading methods include internal blinds, mesh or netting and shading paints applied directly to the greenhouse glass.
Earth up potatoes
If you planted potatoes it may be a good time to 'earth up'.
This technique not only protects the delicate early shoots from potential frost damage but also prevents the developing potatoes from being exposed to light, which can lead to them turning green and becoming poisonous. As potato plants grow, it becomes crucial to earth up to ensure their proper development..
To earth up your potato plants, start by gently mounding soil around the base of each plant. Carefully cover the lower stems and any emerging shoots with a layer of loose soil or compost, leaving only a small portion of leaves visible above ground. Creating this mound acts as a protective barrier against any late spring frosts that could potentially harm the tender foliage.
Additionally, ensuring that no sunlight reaches the developing tubers is of utmost importance. When potatoes are exposed to light, they produce chlorophyll and increase their solanine content - a naturally occurring toxic substance found in green potatoes. By regularly earthing up your potato plants as they grow, you effectively shield the tubers from harmful light exposure.
Earthing up provides other benefits for your potato crop. By increasing soil depth around the plants' stems, you encourage additional root growth and support greater nutrient uptake. The added depth also creates an environment where new tubers can form throughout the growing season without being disturbed by light or damaged by fluctuations in temperature.
When earthing up, take care not to damage the emerging stems while covering them with soil. Use loose soil or compost that won't compact too much so that air circulation remains sufficient around the base of each plant. It is advisable to repeat this process every few weeks as your potato plants continue to grow taller until they reach maturity.
Prepare for summer bedding planting
Summer bedding plants are annuals that are grown for their colourful flowers and foliage. They are typically planted in the spring and summer and will bloom until the first frost.
Some popular summer bedding plants include Begonias, Geraniums, Petunias, Cosmos, Marigolds, Fuchsias and Lobelias. These can be grown from seed, or you can pick up young plants at your local garden centre or nursery.
When choosing summer bedding plants, it is important to consider the amount of sun and water your garden receives, as well as the colours and textures you want to achieve.
Keep on top of weeds
The warmer temperatures (hopefully) aren't only welcomed by your beloved plants... weeds will also be reaping the benefit as they seemingly put on growth spurts as soon as you turn your back on them.
As most of use try to reduce, or eliminate, the use of weedkillers, we often try to control weeds by physical methods rather than chemical ones.
Getting down on your hands and knees and removing weed with a trowel or hand fork is one way to stop the weeds taking over, but hoeing off the tops of the weed seedlings on a dry day is perhaps a little less back-breaking. These decapitated weeds will quickly dry up on the surface of your soil in the May sunshine rather than re-rooting into moist soil
A flame gun can also be used to scorch off weeds appearing between paving slabs and on driveways. Just make sure you are careful when wielding a flame in the garden - remember, you're not trying to recreate a scene from Mad Max!
Hedges
If you didn't trim your hedges last month and you want to tidy them up so that they are looking great over the next few months then it's not to late - just make sure you thoroughly check for nesting birds before you break out the hedgetrimmer.
If you find signs of nesting birds then keep well away so as to not disturb them, or perhaps consider leaving the hedgetrimmer in the shed until the autumn.
Get ready for June
Before you know it, May will be almost gone. Look ahead to gardening jobs for June.