OUTDOORLIVING
YOUR GARDEN THIS MONTH :
MAY
TOP 10 JOBS THIS MONTH
1 . Watch out for late frosts . Protect tender plants .
2 . Earth up potatoes , and promptly plant any still remaining .
3 . Plant out summer bedding at the end of the month ( except in cold areas ).
4 . Water early and late to get the most out of your water , recycle water when possible . 5 . Regularly hoe off weeds . 6 . Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days . 7 . Mow lawns weekly . 8 . Check for nesting birds before clipping hedges . 9 . Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs . 10 . Watch out for viburnum beetle and lily beetle grubs .
PLANT OUT SUMMER BEDDING AT THE END OF THE MONTH
To provide quick , easy to grow seasonal flower and foliage colour , and for ease of planning and setting out , bedding plants are usually chosen from the following :
Frost-tender half-hardy annuals ( HHA ) such as cosmos , nemesia , marigolds and tobacco plants , complete their lifecycle in one season .
If grown from seed they are generally sown indoors and grown on .
Hardy annuals ( HA ) can be sown outdoors directly into the soil in spring where they are to flower . They withstand frosty conditions without protection . Alyssum , Calendula ( pot marigold ), Iberis ( candytuft ) and Limnanthes douglasii ( poached egg plant ).
Hardy biennials ( or short-lived perennials grown as biennials ) ( B ) which complete their lifecycle in two seasons include plants such as Alcea ( hollyhock ), Dianthus ( sweet William ), Erysimum ( wallflower ) and Myosotis ( forgetme-not ). Ornamental brassicas ( kale and cabbage ) are ideal for winter displays .
Half-hardy perennials ( HHP ) live for several years , usually flowering from the second season . Frost-tender , and often discarded at the end of the season , yet they can be overwintered if given frost protection . Examples include : Bellis ( daisy ), begonia , Pelargonium ( geranium ) and lobelia . Note : some perennials , such as Bellis ( daisy ), busy Lizzies and Viola ( pansy ) are grown as annuals or biennials .
Half-hardy or tender sub-tropical plants such as banana plants , cannas and palms often form a focal point or centrepiece for bedding schemes . Succulents can be useful for creating patterns .
Hardy perennials or shrubs such as Erica ( winter-flowering heather ), euphorbia and heuchera can give valuable flower and foliage colour through the winter months . Saxifraga , sedum and sempervivum are excellent for green roof and vertical modular wall planting . Additionally , agave , dwarf conifers , cordylines , Phormium ( New Zealand flax ) and ornamental grasses can provide a central focus for beds and containers .
Bulbs can be mixed with biennial bedding plants will give combinations of colour in the early spring months . Try planting allium , Anemone blanda , crocus , hyacinth , earlyflowering Iris reticulata and tulips .
MOW LAWNS WEEKLY
Mowing is carried out mainly between March and October . Over spring and autumn : Mow once a week . Over summer : On average , mow twice weekly , dropping to once a week during periods of drought . Over winter : Mowing is usually not necessary , unless the weather is mild and the grass is still growing . In this case , mow occasionally with a high cut setting . Do not attempt to do this if the ground conditions are very soft or frozen , or during spells of cold , drying winds .
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