May is one of the high points in our gardening calendar. Not only is the garden bursting into bloom, but May also brings the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a true highlight of the horticultural calendar, and a celebration of all the passion and preparation that goes into a season of gardening. If you’re lucky enough to be going to the show this year, we’d love to see you at our stand, but don’t worry if you can’t make it, because we’ll be bringing you lots of highlights and behind-the-scenes snippets. We’ll also be featuring some of the latest trends that we’ve seen and been inspired by at the show. We hope you’ll find them inspiring too.
In the meantime however, we’ll be making the most of our own gardens, spending lots of time outdoors watching some of our early summer favourites (like alliums, geums and camassias) bursting into bloom as the weather warms.
If you’re also planning on enjoying your garden this month, here are some seasonal tips for you to think about. |
|
From our Head Gardener Ashley
Feeding throughout the year
Feeding your plants will give you the best displays, especially in containers. This doesn't mean throwing down lots of synthetic chemicals, it’s about targeting specific plant needs and improving the quality of your soil.Through early spring, the focus is on steady growth. As soil temperatures rise, plants begin to actively take up nutrients again. This is the point to apply an organic, balanced, slow-release feed across borders and containers to support root development and early foliage. Shrubs and perennials benefit from an organic balanced feed, rather than high-nitrogen spikes that can lead to soft, leggy growth and an insect attack.
|
|
Embrace No Mow May
Founded by the conservation charity Plantlife, the No Mow May campaign encourages us to switch off the lawnmower and leave it in the shed throughout May. Resulting in longer grasses and the emergence of nectar-rich wildflowers, this practice not only helps reduce pollution, but it also provides vital sustenance for a wide range of wildlife - a crucial factor when you consider that we’ve lost nearly 97% of our flowering meadows over the last 50 years. If leaving the whole lawn uncut is too much of a stretch, then consider letting a smaller section grow wild - or perhaps even just cutting a path through the middle and letting the rest grow up on either side. Alternatively, embrace this rewilding scheme wholeheartedly, and introduce some wildflowers into the lawn.
|
|
This month's plant spotlight
Geraniums
Reliable, long-flowering and full of charm, hardy geraniums really come into their own in May, making them the perfect plant to shine a spotlight on this month. Whether tumbling over the edge of a border, weaving between roses or softening a path, these unfussy perennials are quietly brilliant, asking for very little, but giving so much in return. With varieties that flower for months, smother weeds, and suit almost every garden style, there’s a geranium out there for everyone.
|
|
Ashley's favourite plants for may
Potted peonies
Peonies are the headline act of May, brief, but unforgettable. Their large, often fragrant blooms bring a sense of occasion to the garden just as spring tips into early summer. The flowers can be huge and come in a multitude of forms and colours. They bridge that tricky seasonal gap, offering rich blooms before summer perennials fully take over.
Ashley Edwards
Crocus Head Gardener
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
