MAY 2026

Flowers 

Plant up containers with summer bedding plants using a good quality compost. One I would recommend is a Clover multi-purpose compost. Remember to add Osmocote controlled release fertilizer to the bottom third of the compost in the container and add a sprinkling of moisture retention gel to reduce the amount of watering needed.

Keep a careful watch for the Red Lily Beetle adults and larvae on your Lilies and remove with your fingers or spray with Resolva Bug Killer.

All indoor plants should be watered and fed on a regular basis at this time of year and a misting over with clean water (preferably rain water) will keep the plants looking healthy.

Trees & Shrubs 

Thoroughly water newly planted Trees and Shrubs including fruit to allow the plants to establish well. This will need to be continued throughout this growing season

Remove the flower heads on Rhododendrons now that they are finished but take care not to damage the buds just below the old flower head.

If you have a Camellia which needs pruning, now is an ideal time to do it as regrowth at this time of year is assured.

Spring flowering shrubs such as Forsythia, Philadelphus and Weigelia should be pruned now as the young growth produced will then gave a splendid display of flowers next Spring.

Vegetables 

Potatoes should be earthed up this month to get a better crop as the potato is a stem rooting plant and this will also reduce the amount of green tubers produced when they reach the light.

Continue to pick Rhubarb on a regular basis to keep the production of young leaves going. If a flower spike is produced remove this with a sharp knife right to the base of the plant.

Continue to make successional sowings of Carrots, Beetroot, Radishes and Lettuce direct into the open ground.

Runner Beans and French Beans can also be successfully sown direct into the open ground now, but remember to sow the seeds on their edge for best results.

Pests and Diseases 

Apply slug/snail killer to your plants to protect them from damage or use some of the alternatives if you would prefer to do so, but some sort of protection must be put in place. Use insect mesh to control the ravages of Carrot fly to your Carrots and Parsnips.

Greenhouse Ventilate greenhouses to reduce overheating and shade with netting or Summer Cloud to prevent burning of the plants inside.