Gardening Tips for May – From the Spanish Potting Shed

Although I'm in a flurry of activity for the forthcoming Chelsea Flower Show, I am writing this mopnth's tips from the seclusion of Finca Lucia in Andalucia.

Now on my travels to this delightful haven of peace and tranquillity (volcanic ash permitting) I’ve browsed across the Spanish Gardening Forum, hot topics for this month include; “how is your orange crop, flowering cacti and the tales of the poor palms”. Reading through the comments on orange crops I can see that gardening is taken just as seriously here as it is in the UK.

But back to our green and pleasant pastures. Now that most of the country is enjoying a period of prolonged warmth (not really heat) we should be seeing changes throughout the garden.

Weed Control
And as we experience the start of the growing seasons so cometh the weeds. Regular hoeing will keep the weeds down and stop them from becoming too big and overpowering. Also, putting down a layer of mulch will help to stop further weeds but remember to water well first, as this helps to seal in the moisture around your plants.

Lawns
Your grass will be growing well now so you'll need to keep on top of the mowing ideally on a weekly basis. Avoid scalping the lawn by keeping the blades relatively high, but each time you do mow it, lower them slightly. This is also a great time to feed established lawns and don’t forget to water them during the prolonged hot spells before they start going brown.

Vegetable Plot
This month is the perfect time to sow runner and French beans outside and if you sowed leeks earlier, these can go out too. Marrows and courgettes are tender plants so protect them from any late frosts and keep them well watered throughout the summer. If you don’t have room for a vegetable plot then don’t forget you can grow a wide selection of veg favourites and berries in pots and containers.

Flower Beds & Boarders
Stake your flowers now as this makes them easier to train.
Begin cutting and deadheading as soon as blossoming begins and for late blooming bulbs be sure to take off the bloom and leave plenty of leaf so the bulb can store energy for next season.
With so much available in sow direct seed, you should try and plan successive sowings of your favourite flowers. Have a look around your local garden centres for seeds or buy them direct on-line.
Plan to add edging plants to borders and walkways. Good annuals include ageratum, alyssum, dusty miller, petunias, lobelia, phlox, portulaca, marigolds, nasturiums, pansies and verbena.
And, don’t forget your window boxes and planters. Mix flowers, herbs and a little ivy for a beautiful display.

Happy Gardening