May is one of the most exciting months in the gardening calendar. The soil has warmed, daylight hours are long, and everything is bursting into life. It’s the perfect time to plant flowers and vegetables that will reward you all summer long.
🌸 Bedding Plants for Colour
Bedding plants add instant impact to borders, pots, and hanging baskets. In May, it’s safe to plant out tender varieties:
- Petunias: Great for hanging baskets and pots.
- Geraniums: Long-lasting blooms, easy to grow.
- Marigolds: Great for borders and pest control.
🌼 Perennials for Long-Term Beauty
Add structure and return year after year:
- Echinacea: Loved by pollinators.
- Salvia: Colourful and drought-tolerant.
- Hardy Geraniums: Reliable and low-maintenance.
🥕 Easy Vegetables to Plant in May
It’s the perfect time to sow or plant:
- Lettuce: Sow little and often for continuous crops.
- Carrots: Direct sow into finely raked soil.
- Courgettes: Plant out if frost risk has passed.
- Beans: Sow French and runner beans now.
🌿 Herbs for Kitchen and Border
- Basil: Great for pots or greenhouse.
- Parsley: Versatile and easy to grow.
- Chives: Adds flavour and soft colour.
🛠May Garden Care Tips
- Harden off seedlings by gradually introducing them to the outdoors.
- Mulch borders to conserve moisture and reduce weeds.
- Stake tall perennials to prevent wind damage.
- Deadhead spring bulbs and feed them as they die back.
🌱 Where to Buy Plants
Check local nurseries or browse RHS-approved stockists:
Starting from Seed: Tips for Success
Want to grow from scratch? Sowing seeds is a rewarding and budget-friendly way to fill your garden. Use clean seed trays filled with good-quality compost. Keep the soil moist and warm—placing trays on a sunny windowsill or in a propagator works wonders. Once seedlings show their first true leaves, gently transplant them into pots to grow on.
✅ Final Tip
May planting sets the tone for your summer garden. With the right mix of colour, structure, and productivity, you’ll enjoy vibrant displays and delicious harvests all season.
🌿 Need seasonal advice? Visit our Monthly Garden Jobs guide or explore our Planting & Plant Care hub.
Need a Hand Getting Started?
If you’d love to enjoy a vibrant garden this summer but don’t have the time to tackle the planting yourself, we’re here to help. At Steve’s Garden Services, we offer expert planting, garden makeovers, and regular maintenance across Norwich, Swardeston, and the surrounding villages.
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