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What to do in May

May
  •   Prune spring shrubs, such as forsythia and chaenomeles, after flowering to keep them compact
  •   Plant out dahlia tubers and cannas after all risk of frost has passed
  •   Tie in the new shoots of climbing plants, including clematis, wisteria and honeysuckle, to their supports
  •   Continue sowing annuals, such as California poppies, into gaps in borders for colour from August into autumn
  •   Plant up hanging baskets, but keep in a greenhouse or porch for a few weeks to establish, before putting outside
  •   Earth up potatoes, covering the shoots with soil as they appear
  •   Sow sweetcorn in deep pots, so the young plants are ready to transplant into the garden in June
  •   Reduce snail populations by going on regular evening hunts, especially during damp weather
  •   Start sowing dwarf and climbing French beans, as well as runner beans, directly outdoors in warm weather
  •   Pick rhubarb stems as they develop, and water plants with liquid feed
  •   Water thirsty crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes regularly as the weather starts to warm up
  •   Tie the stems of indoor tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines to canes as they grow
  •   Plant heat-treated freesia corms in pots for fragrant flowers this summer
  •   Check plants regularly for pests, on shoot tips and the underside of leaves, and treat with biological controls
  •   Put up shading to lower daytime temperatures and reduce scorching
  •   Scoop out pondweed, blanketweed and algae from ponds and water features
  •   Put soft tops on the tips of all canes, in borders, veg plots, pots and greenhouses, to prevent injury to eyes
  •   Apply wood treatment to wooden garden furniture to condition it for summer
  •   Set up an extra compost bin or a worm bin, so you can recycle more green waste from your kitchen and garden
  •   Apply nitrogen-rich summer lawn feed to encourage leafy growth