May in an English garden is the sweet spot of the horticultural calendar. The frost has finally gone, the soil is warming, and the greenery is growing with such vigour you can almost hear it. It is a month of frantic energy balanced by moments of pure, fragrant stillness. There are plenty of things to do in the garden in May.
The Peak of Planting
May is the month of hardening off. If you’ve been nursing tender seedlings like tomatoes, cosmos, or dahlias on a sunny windowsill, now is the time to bring them into the Great Outdoors. Start by giving them a few hours of fresh air each day before finally committing them to the earth.
Sow Annuals – sow sunflowers, zinnias, and poppies directly into the borders for a burst of late-summer colour.
This is your last chance to get supports in place for peonies and delphiniums. Do it now, or you’ll be trying to rescue collapsed stems after the first heavy spring rain.
Consider the “Chelsea Chop”! Named after the famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show held in late May, this is a bold pruning technique. By cutting back certain perennials—like Sedums or Phlox—by about a third, you delay their flowering. This results in bushier plants that won’t flop over and a longer display of blooms later in the season.
Wildlife and Maintenance
The “No Mow May” movement has gained massive traction across the UK, and for good reason. By leaving the lawnmower in the shed, you allow dandelions, clover, and daisies to provide a vital feast for emerging bees and butterflies.
If you can’t bear a completely shaggy lawn, try mowing pathways through the long grass to create a deliberate, romantic meadow look.
Savouring the Moment
Beyond the chores, May is a month for sensory indulgence. The Wisteria is usually at its height, dripping in violet racemes, and the first of the climbing roses are beginning to unfurl.
Set up your garden furniture now. There is no greater English pleasure than a cup of tea (or a glass of elderflower cordial) at 4:00 PM, surrounded by the scent of lilacs and the insistent song of a blackbird.
May is fleeting; work hard in your garden, but don’t forget to look up and breathe it in.