May is often considered the high point of gardening. With the arrival of fine weather, it’s the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and indulge in a variety of horticultural activities. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, this article will help you to plan and organize your gardening activities for this crucial month.
From planting to pruning and general maintenance, find out all about essential garden tasks for May to ensure spectacular flowering all summer long.
Maintenance and soil preparation in May : Key steps
May is the ideal time to prepare your vegetable garden. Start by hoeing the soil to eliminate weeds while aerating the soil. Follow with enrich your soil with about 2 cm of compost, especially in areas intended for fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes or squash.
Once these steps have been completed, you can start planting some hardy vegetables. Throughout the month, be sure to maintain regular watering, especially as the weather warms up. If a drop in temperature is forecast, don’t hesitate to cover your seedlings to protect them.
Sowing and planting vegetables in May : A practical guide
In early May, focus on hardy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce or carrots. These can be sown directly in the ground or in window boxes. This is also the ideal time to plant asparagus and rhubarb although their first harvest is not expected for two to three years.
From mid-May onwards, start training your plants in tomatoes, peppers and eggplant to outdoor conditions. However, don’t hesitate to bring them in at night if temperatures are too cool. At the end of the month, plant your potatoes and onions If the climate permits, transplant your cold-weather vegetables into the ground, and install stakes to support your tomato plants.
Pest management and flower care : Tips for May
Crop rotation is an effective strategy for managing pests. If a vegetable was infested the previous year, plant it in a different part of the garden this year. The regular weeding and insect monitoring are also essential.
When it comes to flower care, remove spent flowers from bulbs but leave the leaves to mature. Prune spring-flowering shrubs after flowering and lavender as soon as you see signs of growth. Sow fast-growing annuals and lavender in the ground around mid-May. transplant cold-weather annuals at the end of May when nights rise above 15°C.
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