What to do in the garden this month: May gardening tips
Hurray for May! Here are a few jobs to tackle in the weeks ahead to keep your garden in bloom all summer long.
Growing season is in full swing. This is your last chance to start sowing bulbs such as dahlias, lilies or gladioli before summer so if you have a stash that you haven’t tackled yet, now’s the time to dig in.
There’s still a window to sow wildflower mixes and sunflower seeds. This is a fun job with children – encourage them to find a sunny spot, clear the bed, dig out any weeds, and rake or loosen the soil before they start sowing. Water immediately (but take care not to overwater) and keep them moist in the weeks to come.
It’s ‘No Mow May’ time and while this recent trend can benefit biodiversity in the short term, you can create more of a lasting impact by allowing a section of your garden to grow freely and abundantly throughout the coming months. These little patches of wild can be a big boon to visiting invertebrates and pollinators and if you can stand the unkempt look, mini meadows can be visually appealing too! If you add a little tub of water for wildlife, they’ll flock to your garden even more.
It’s a busy month for edible gardens. Indoor-raised seedlings can move outside once the threat of frost has passed and if the weather remains mild, you can start planting root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and turnips, and sowing leafy greens. (Check out Bord Bia’s Grow Guide for more advice on growing crops.)
Keep a sharp eye out for slugs, snails and other pests. Organic deterrents like coffee grounds, eggshells, or pistachio nutshells or beer traps can help. Alternatively, try organic slug pellets but be sure to check they’re safe for use if you have children or pets.
Weeding is no fun for anyone but a necessary chore as the growing season accelerates. If you can find a few moments to tackle them on a weekly basis, it will make the job easier later in the summer. Adding mulch can help supress their growth and retains moisture in the soil.
Garden centres and nurseries are awash with both colour and customers as the weather picks up. If you’re looking for an instant flourish that will return year after year, opt for late spring blooming perennials such as geraniums (Rozanne is always a crowd-pleaser), nepata (catmint), geums, and lavender. For blooms that will emerge later and continue through summer, try agapanthus, delphiniums, and hydrangeas. Shade-tolerant options include primula, brunnera, digitalis, and aquilegia. The team in your local garden centre will be able to help you pick the best options for your space.
And remember to mark your calendars, Bord Bia Bloom returns to the Phoenix Park at the end of this month (May 28th – June 1st). You’ll find a wealth of gardening advice and inspiration at this year’s festival, from the Show Gardens and Postcard Gardens through to the many talks, demos, and performances in the Botanical Hub. Look out for our Event Schedule to find out when your favourite designers and plantspeople are speaking and check out our three expert clinics with the Garden & Landscape Designers Association, The Irish Garden magazine, and Crann – Trees for Ireland for more personalised advice. We hope to see you there!
