Monthly planning
What should you be planting in May?

The month of May is the first time we can really justify saying ‘summer is just around the corner’, and nothing says summer like getting into the garden.
Days are longer and warmer and everything starts to grow in the sunlight. If you want to enjoy a beautiful garden all summer long, it’s around about May time that sowing and planting can really begin. Take a look at what to plant in May, to help give you some inspiration.
May gardening checklist

Before you begin, keep an eye out for the things that could hold you back this May. We’ve compiled a handy checklist so that you don’t get caught out as you beautify your garden...
- Keep an eye out for late frosts that can damage tender plants
- At the end of May, plant out summer bedding
- Hoe off weeds as much as possible.
- Make sure there are no nesting birds when clipping hedges.
- On the warmer days, open up greenhouse vents.
- To maximise watering, water early and late and recycle as much as possible.
Indoor conservatory plants

Although houseplants are usually really easy to maintain, they will need new compost every now and again.
When casting a careful eye over your houseplants, watch out for those showing signs of being rootbound. If so, pot them up afresh or top dress with new compost. May is a time of growing and it’s important not to stifle your beloved plants, even the ones that live indoors.
During May, it’s helpful to move indoor plants such as the Ficus family – Amir, Rob, Fidel and the Fidel Tree – outdoors, especially on the warmest days. Just remember to bring them back inside if it’s forecast to be cold in the night.
May in the greenhouse

If you’ve placed any plants in a greenhouse over the last few months, May is the time to tinker. Things are heating up and on particularly sunny days, you may want to apply blinds, open and doors or vents to prevent temperatures from going through the roof.
Begonia, like Rex, Gloxinia or Achimenes plants that might have previously been in smaller pots, now want to be re-potted into larger containers. These kind of plants will thank you for the extra space as they grow – disease and pest infestations can be avoided.
Top tip: if you damp down the floor of the greenhouse, humidity levels are bound to increase, helping plant growth and reducing pest problems. Also, as summer grows ever closer, get into the habit of checking plants for watering at least every few days.
Watching for pests and disease in May

Pests can really spoil your gardening fun, and May is the month to watch out for any nasty bugs that can ruin your plants.
Red spider mite, whitefly and thrips are just some of the pests and diseases that can ruin your gardening in May. In order to avoid these pesky afflictions, regularly inspect your plants as well as the actual greenhouses and conservatories that they’re living in. Taking a careful look at the undersides of their leaves is a good place to start.
Using sticky strips to cut down on flying pests is a good idea. So is damping down the floor of a greenhouse to increase humidity and fighting the risk of red spider mites. While you’re down there, try and brush up any fallen compost or dead leaves – a messy floor is a prime location for diseases to start spreading from.
If you want to get started with your summer gardening, take a look at our outdoor plants. With an amazing array of plants and trees, you’ll be sure to get some inspiration to take into the garden this May.
Alternatively, read more about the unkillable plants if you don’t trust yourself...