- Plant out summer bedding. In cold areas, it is advised to wait until well into June, or until all risk of frost has passed.
- Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs
- Plant out cannas and dahlias when danger of frost is past.
- Cutting back clumps of spring-flowering perennials such as Pulmonaria and Doronicum can encourage a fresh flush of foliage.
- Trim back spreading and trailing plants such as the annual Lobularia (sweet alyssum), and the perennials Alyssum and Aubrieta, to encourage fresh growth and new flowers.
- Deadhead tulips and daffodils but always allow the foliage to die down naturally.
- Put supports in place for herbaceous plants that will become tall or produce heavy flower heads
- Train and tie in your climbing plants such as sweet peas, climbing and rambling roses and honeysuckle and Clematis as they continue to grow.
- If you want your Chrysanthemum and Helianthus to bush out then pinch out the leading shoots.
- Pot on plants showing signs of being root bound. You can tip out the root balls of unhappy looking containerised specimens, to see if they are indeed pot bound or if they are suffering from some other problem.
- Continue to protect lily, delphinium, hosta and other susceptible plants from slugs and snails.
- Sowing new lawns or over-seeding dead patches can still be carried out in early May.
- Cut back tender shrubs such as Penstemon, Caryopteris and hardy Fuchsia after danger of frosts has past.
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as Berberis, Chaenomeles, Choisya and Ribes after flowering.
- Remove one stem in three from Kerria and Spiraea arguta and shorten the other flowered stems to a suitable side shoot. Evergreens such as Viburnum tinus can also still be trimmed this month.
- Prune overcrowded, dead or diseased stems of Clematis montana once it has finished flowering.
- Remove any reverted green shoots on hardy variegated evergreens, to prevent reversion taking over.
- Keep an eye on your garden and your containers and ensure that your plants do not dry out.
- Plant up hanging baskets for a flush of colour throughout the summer or a tasty treat from trailing strawberries and tomatoes. Or come and buy one of our pre-made hanging baskets with a variety of combinations!
