May is a magical month in the garden. Everything is waking up, blooming, and growing like crazy—and if you’re like us, you can’t wait to dig in! Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an everyday garden guru, here’s your go-to checklist to keep your May garden looking its best.
🌿 1. Plant Summer Stars
Now’s the time to plant your warm-season favorites! In Zones 5–6 and beyond, the threat of frost is (finally!) gone.
- Annuals: Get those colorful annuals like petunias, impatiens, and marigolds in the ground or containers.
- Vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and beans can all be planted now.
- Herbs: Basil, cilantro, parsley, thyme, and more will thrive in the warming soil.
💡 Pro Tip: Mix in Espoma Bio-Tone Starter Plus and Adoria Compost to give new plants a strong, healthy start.
🌸 2. Feed the Flowers
Give perennials and flowering shrubs a dose of balanced fertilizer to promote big, bold blooms. May is the perfect time to feed roses, hydrangeas, peonies, and your freshly planted annuals.
🌼 3. Deadhead & Divide
Snip off spent blooms on early bloomers like daffodils and tulips, but leave the foliage to feed the bulb for next year. It’s also a great time to divide overgrown perennials like daylilies, hostas, and phlox.
🌳 4. Time to Mulch
Refresh garden beds with a layer of mulch to lock in moisture and suppress weeds. Scotts NatureScapes Mulch is a great choice for color and coverage. Aim for 2–3 inches, but don’t pile it against stems or trunks.
🌱 5. Water Wisely
Spring rains are nice, but May can sneak in some dry spells. Water deeply and early in the day to prevent stress and disease.
🛠 Tip: Install soaker hoses or drip irrigation for easy, efficient watering.
🌻 6. Stake Tall Plants
Get ahead of floppy flowers by staking peonies, delphiniums, and tomatoes before they start toppling over. Trust us—your future self will thank you.
🐛 7. Check for Pests & Problems
Inspect leaves and stems for aphids, mites, and disease. Catching issues early means you can treat them before they spread.
🌿 Organic options like neem oil and insecticidal soap are great for staying green while fighting pests.
🐝 8. Attract Pollinators
Add bee- and butterfly-friendly plants like coneflowers, milkweed, salvia, and lavender. Pollinators are key to your veggie garden’s success!
🧤 9. Tidy Up Your Tools
Clean, sharpen, and organize your gardening tools. Give your potting shed or garage a spring sweep—future planting days will go smoother when you’re organized.
🪴 10. Pot Up Patio Planters
Design colorful containers with thrillers, fillers, and spillers. Be bold! This is your time to shine.
🎉 Bonus Tip: Celebrate Your Garden!
Invite friends over, enjoy coffee among the blooms, or snap a few photos of your handiwork. May is when your hard work begins to blossom—literally!
Ready to Get Growing?
Shop plants, fertilizers, mulch, tools, and garden décor online or in-store. And don’t forget—you can pre-order summer beauties at ShipMyPlants.com and have them delivered right to your door!
