MAY

 

FRUIT

 

·         Untie and retrain branches of wall-trained figs that have been bundled together for protection, prune as necessary..

 

·         Pick protected strawberries and gooseberry thinnings.

 

·         Open one side of fruit cage to allow entry for pollinating insects.

 

·         Protect blossoms from frosts.

 

·         Mow grass around trees.

 

·         Water well after flowering plants especially stone fruits.

 

·         Ring bark over vigorous apple and pear trees.

 

·         De-blossom newly planted trees.

 

·         Late May remove the polythene cover from wall-trained peaches and nectarines

 

·         Remove unwanted shoots from raspberries.

 

·         Thin gooseberries in late may if large fruits required.

 

·         Never use insecticides during flowering, may kill pollinating insects.

 

·         Continue control against pear scab.

 

·         Start netting all fruit at the first sign of ripening.

 

·         Look to spraying against P+D.

 

·         Put straw around strawberries. Deter slugs use slug pellets. Minimize risk of bird damage use netting.

 

 

VEGETABLES

 

·         Plant out Brussel Sprouts, summer and winter cabbage.

 

·         Sow in pots sweet corn, runner beans, French beans, for planting out in June.

 

·         Sow cucumber, marrow, and melons in gentle heat.

 

·         Sow short rows of lettuce fortnightly.

 

·         Transplant pencil thick leeks into final position.

 

·         Control slugs and snails.

   

LAWN

 

·         Edge lawn fortnightly (i.e. every two weeks), using long handled shears.

 

·         Sow grass seed on newly prepared lawns.

 

·         Mow when necessary, gradually bringing the height of cut lower.

 

·         Best month for using a selective weed killer or lawn sand.

 

·         Brush or rake to lift coarse grasses before mowing.

 

 

GARDEN

 

·         Weed control by hoeing and spraying etc.

 

·         Control slugs and snails.

 

·         Mulch heathers.

 

·         Encourage bushy growth on fuchsias by nipping out tips.

 

·         Trim conifers and evergreen hedges.

 

·         Put in supports for tall herbaceous perennials.

 

·         Pinch out side shoots and tendrils from cordon grown sweet peas.

 

·         Lift spring bedding and prepare for planting summer bedding. Bulbs can be used elsewhere

 

·         Harden off bedding plants protect from frost.

 

·         Plant up hanging baskets.    

                              

·         Shade greenhouse structures.

 

·         Prune Kerria, Forsythia and flowering currants

 

·         Plant out Dahlia tubers in prepared plots

 

·         Sow hardy annuals in situ

 

·         Deadhead flowers of finished Rhododendron

 

·         Spray roses for Black spot, mildew, aphids etc.