Top News

May is one of the best months of the year for gardeners. Longer days, more sunshine and new growth emerging from the soil make this an exciting time for green-thumbed Brits.

With a three-day weekend approaching this week, it's the perfect time to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Paul Parker fromJ. Parker's gardening company has shared his five favourite jobs to get finished over the bank holiday weekend. From planting to pruning, these are some of the most important jobs to get done in May.

With new growth starting to bud this month, it's important to keep on top of it. Paul said: "When you spot new shoots on your bedding plants, you can get bigger, bushier blooms by pinching them out this month.

"Gently remove the top of the shoots using your fingernails at the next set of leaves down.

"Your bedding plants will quickly produce multiple new shoots for every shoot pinched out. So doing this now will give you an abundance of flowers in your summer beds and borders."

Many keen gardeners will have already started planting their bulbs, but if you're still hoarding yours then May is the perfect time to get them in the ground.

Paul said: "May is the best time to get them in pots or directly into the ground to avoid delayed flowers. Summer bulb varieties include cannas, dahlias, and begonias, and planting them now will fill your summer garden with colourful blooms from June through September.

"May is a great time to get summer bulbs into the ground because these tender bulbs should only be planted once the threat of frost has completely passed."

If you have kept your tender perennials inside over the winter months to protect them from cold weather, it's crucial to harden them off before planting them outdoors.

This will give them the best chance of survival, as planting them straight outside can stress them and potentially kill them.

Paul said: "During the day, while the temperatures are warmer, start to move potted tender plants like dahlias outdoors.

"Then, in the evening, bring your plants back indoors to keep them protected from colder nights. Repeat this process for a minimum of two weeks to give your plants the best chance of survival."

Once your spring shrubs have flowered, it's important to prune them back using sharp, clean secateurs to prevent disease.

Paul said: "Pruning spring shrubs in May will help keep them compact and neat and avoid the leggy look when they flower again the following year."

Climbing plants like clematis and wisteria start to grow rapidly in the warmer months so it's important to make sure they are properly supported.

Paul advised: "Use soft garden twine to gently tie new growth to fences, arches or trellises, guiding plants in your desired direction. Always secure stems loosely to allow room for continued growth."