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	Information - Gardening The Garden in May

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January : February : March : April : May : June : July : August : September : October : November : December

Must do this month

Sow fast-maturing and late-flowering annuals, herbs and vegetables including parsnips, early carrots and runner beans.

Other jobs to do

	Harden off summer bedding plants and plant out. Check the weather forecast regularly and be prepared to provide temporary protection, with newspapers or horticultural fleece, if frost is forecast.
	Thin out hardy annual, vegetable and other seedlings sown outdoors.
	Maintain a programme of weeding and checking for pests and diseases.
	Water and feed plants as necessary. Pay particular attention to seedlings, plants in containers and newly planted trees and shrubs.
	Take basal cuttings of border plants, such as lupins and delphinium, before they develop hollow or pithy stems, at which point it is too late for successful cuttings.
	Stake and support chrysanthemums except compact varieties and dwarf bedding. Stop incurved and large exhibition chrysanthemums this month.
	Prune spring-flowering clematis after flowering.
	Finish planting of permanent containers so plants have the summer to establish themselves.
	Pinch out the growing tips of bush fuschias while the plants are still small, and check all types of tender greenhouse cucumbers and tomatoes. Remove male flowers from cucumbers.
	Prune winter-flowering heathers. Any not pruned by the end of May should be left until next year.
	Plant onion sets as soon as possible.
	Earth up early and maincrop potatoes; protect foliage if frost is forecast.
	Cut lawns with naturalised bulbs growing in them. Keep mower blades high.

May is a lovely time of the year. Signs of summer are everywhere, days are warmer and longer and more flowers are in bloom, adding colour and scent to the garden. Summer bedding plants are available from shops and garden centres and, if you have grown your own bedding plants, you will be anxious to get them planted outdoors - both to make space in the greenhouse and to reduce the amount of time you spend watering and feeding them.

You should, however, resist the temptation to plant out tender annuals during a spell of fine, summer weather at the beginning of the month.

Be guided by past experience as to the likelihood of late frosts in your area. In favourable parts of the country, such as the south and south-west, it may be reasonable to take the risk and plant out at the beginning of the month. But even in those mild areas, the middle of the month is a safer choice.

In cold regions wait until the end of the month or even delay planting out until the beginning of June. If you are in any doubt as to when to plant out, and you live in a town, be guided by the local parks - and plant out summer bedding when they do. They will be basing their timing on many years of local experience.