The list of garden chores and checks here are generally taken care of in the month of May. There are exceptions to this such as unexpected freezes. Depending on the climate or microclimate, these tasks will need to be adjusted. In the United States check with the local Cooperative Extension Office for a more detailed list of what is needed in each zone.
Vegetable Garden
- Remove any newly sprouted weeds from garden area by hoeing or tilling and then rake them out of garden soil. Make certain to get them out roots and all.
- Sow carrots, lettuce, radishes, spinach and any cold season crops which were not planted earlier.
- Continue to sow Asian greens in succession all month.
- Transplant all new seedlings from greenhouse or kitchen windowsill into garden.
- Fertilize all new seedlings with a weak solution of compost tea. Mulch seedlings and keep well watered while they are putting on new growth.
- At the end of month plant bean, corn, cucumber, pea, pepper, squash and tomato seeds and transplants.
Herb Garden
- Weed beds a final time before planting and mulch well to deter weeds later in the season.
- Make succession plantings of short-lived herbs to extend harvest period.
- Sow or transplant perennial/hardy herbs such as; chives, fennel, lovage, marjoram, thyme, winter savory.
- Plant basil, mint, tarragon and any other warm-weather herbs desired.
- Using care not to injure shallow roots, cultivate around established perennial herbs, give them an all around trim of branches and fresh mulch for the season. Take care not to trim off flowering branches. It is better that they not be trimmed if plants have already begun to set buds.
- Seedlings should be watered well throughout the month as they will put on a lot of new growth in May.
Fruit Garden
- Pick off and destroy caterpillars and other pests from trees and bushes.
- Mulch strawberry plants with straw for a clean bed which keeps fruits from laying on the soil.
- Cover strawberry plants with netting to prevent birds from eating early fruits.
- Cut away any suckers from lower trunks of trees and bushes.
- Spread 4 – 5 inches of healthy compost mulch around trunks of trees and bushes.
May can be an unsettled month in the garden with too little or too much rain, unexpected freezes, spring storms pushing through with torrential downpours and damaging winds and other surprises from Mother Nature. It only makes sense to be prepared for these occurrences in advance. Utilize floating row covers to protect young seedlings from frost, high winds and many pests.
May is also the time when slugs and snails awake and begin their assault in the garden. It is a good idea to treat the soil for slugs before planting and to keep a close watch throughout the season for any and all other pests. This is as simple as walking through the garden every day or two and physically checking the plants for infestations.
Further Reading
Tasks for those in warmer climates can be found in this article; “Garden Tasks for May in Hot to Warm Climates.” Also read, “Choosing Perennial Herbs” and “Pests and Diseases in the Vegetable Garden”
Jacqueline Cross - Ms. Cross is a freelance writer and when not writing or traveling and reading for research, she enjoys creating various gardens on her ...
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