Blue Daisy Blog

A few jobs that can be done this month:

• Prune heathers by removing dead flower heads being careful not to cut into old wood
• Keep on top of and remove germinating weeds
• Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials to encourage invigorated growth and increase your garden stock
• Gently scarify your lawn if not done in the autumn
• Mow lawns on a high setting for the first few cuts
• Lay turf or seeds from the end of this month and into April

This month we should start to notice the sun warming up, the grass starting to grow and of course the early spring bulbs will be gracing us with their presence brightening up our borders and generally making us smile! The weather though this month can be changeable so don’t be tempted to remove any protective fleeces on your planted out tender plants. And for any you've stored under cover over winter, we can still have some sharp frosts so you may need to keep them safe until the threat of frosts has passed.

With the sun’s warmth getting stronger though the germination of weeds will begin in earnest now so it is really important to hoe them out. Any perennial weeds will need to be dug out now before they really start to take hold. Applying mulch to the soil this time of year is good because it will keep all the moisture in and cut down on the amount of weeds germinating.

Every month brings with it a list of jobs that need doing in the garden and May is no exception!  This is a busy time of year generally and this year is no exception. Your garden will benefit from TLC this month to give it the best chance of performing well for you during the summer months.  Some May garden jobs for that list of yours...

Summer should be well on its way this month with warmer and longer days. Everything this year seems to be starting early not only the plants but also the pests are out with a vengence.  Our May gardens are starting to inject more colour and vibrancy into our outdoor spaces with flowers coming into bloom thick and fast.

Tulips are already up and gracing us with their presence, remember though that even with the hot weather we've been having of late, there is still a chance of an occasional frost so be ready to cover tender plants.  New shoots found on plants like hostas are tender too and will need protection from cold winds and late frosts – have newspapers or fleeces ready and hold them down with large stones over night if the forecast is for cold.

April usually brings with it an injection of colour in our gardens, the spring bulbs are usually out in force, other plant leaves are unfurling and trees are often awash with blossom at this time of year making it feel as though life is most definitely stirring!  The birds are usually singing, insects are usually starting to show themselves and often the bees are out making the most of the early nectar from the spring flowers. 

Keep your eyes open for any pests like slugs and snails and the dreaded vine weevil.   

Chances are you've been reticent about getting tender plants or seedlings outside but if you have ventured out take care still as frosts can still damage them so have some horticultural fleece or even an old newspaper at the ready to cover them during those colder nights.  If you don't have either and can bring them indoors remember to take them back out the next day.

Spring is a great time for scent in the garden and if you don't have anything now is the perfect time to go out and buy yourself something that will add another dimension to your garden at this time of the year. Some to consider are, for example, Viburnam, Philadelphus, Daphne, Wisteria and Magnolias but be sure to double check before you buy because not every variety of these plants has a scent.

If you have a vegetable garden you'll be a busy bee making sure the ground is prepared and heated sufficiently enough to plant those tender seedlings that will hopefully produce an abundance of tasty treats for you later in the year!  Remember though the trick is to sow seeds every few weeks or so to make sure you get an ongoing supply of produce that you can cope with rather than being inundated with things like courgettes...yes, we've all done it with courgettes!!