Bring Forth May Flowers

• Protect tender new growth from frosts by covering with newspaper or horticultural fleece at night if possible.

• Keep the greenhouse well ventilated and water regularly as warm days and rapidly growing plants will dry soil quickly.  

• In the vegetable garden, it’s time to direct-sow carrots, parsnips, radishes and beets, and begin to start succession sowing of salad crops for a continuous supply throughout the summer

• Half-Hardy annuals and tender vegetables can be planted out gradually through the month, depending on how sheltered the planting area is.  However, do not be in too much of a rush to plant half-hardy or tender plants.

• Continue to mow lawns regularly

• Moss and broadleaf weeds should be treated in early May, but most treatments require rain shortly after treatment

• Leave the foliage of Spring bulbs to die down naturally – don’t be tempted to cut or tie.  It’s a good idea to give them a water with a high potassium fertiliser such as a liquid tomato feed, as the treatment they receive now will determine the quality of the blooms next Spring.

• Slug pellets containing Metaldehyde have now been banned for use.  Try to use Garlic wash or other natural methods of control (including encouraging wildlife) to limit damage by slugs and snails.