Gardening jobs for May

As the bulbs fade away and herbaceous borders grow in leaps and bounds, summer is approaching! Sowing and planting out bedding plants can now begin, depending on regional weather variations, and you can also take softwood cuttings. It's also time to get back into the lawn mowing regime, as the lawn will be loving the warmer temperatures that May brings.

This month's main gardening jobs are:

1. Keep weeds under control
2. Mow your lawns weekly
3. Lift and divide clumps of Daffodils a few weeks after blooming

Here are some more jobs and reminders for May as circulated by the RHS...

• Watch out for late frosts. Protect tender plants 
• Earth up potatoes, and promptly plant any still remaining
• Plant out summer bedding at the end of the month (except in cold areas)
• Water early and late to get the most out of your water, recycle water when possible
• Regularly hoe off weeds
• Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days
• Mow lawns weekly
• Check for nesting birds before clipping hedges
• Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs
• Watch out for viburnum beetle and lily beetle grubs.

Please visit the RHS website for more detailed guidance on each of this month's jobs above and much more.

Also recommended is the Gardening Know How section at Sutton's Seeds website for great gardening tips and advice.