Gardening Jobs for May

I might be biased because it is my birthday month, but May is one of my favorite months in the garden! Spring has well and truly sprung, the first warm-ish days start to come, and there are beautiful flowers everywhere! It’s also the last month before the hectic Summer gardening season kicks off so I like to enjoy the sunny but cooler days out there as much as possible! It’s the time when I like to get organized and prepared for the Summer ahead. Here are some gardening jobs for May!

Feed potted plants and cut-and-come-again greens

Now is the time to give your potted plants and cut-and-come-again greens a boost. Make sure the soil is moist before applying a good-quality liquid fertilizer. Apply as needed throughout the growing season according to the directions on your fertilizer bottle.

Keep up with weeding

Weeds can get out of hand very quickly so I find that weeding a little bit at a time often can help with any overwhelm you might feed around the task. I love setting a timer, and putting on a good podcast, audiobook, or playlist and get stuck in!

Thin out seedlings

May is the perfect time to thin seedlings like carrots, radish, salad greens, etc. This encourages growth and ensures strong and healthy plants.

Last chance to plant potatoes

If you’re wanting a potato harvest later this Summer, now is the time to get those potatoes into the ground! If you’ve already got yours planted, make sure to earth them up as the shoots appear above the soil line.

Clean off the patio

May is when I like to start spending time out on my patio. I remove everything from the patio and either sweep or powerwash to remove any dirt, grime, or leftover leaves. I also get out my patio table chairs and give everything a good clean. I also like to check our bbq to see what needs cleaning and make sure we have a full tank of propane so we can start bbqing as soon as the weather warms up.

Lastly, I check my string light bulbs to make sure they are all working and replace any that need to be.

Succession sow salad leaves

If you’ve sown lettuce in March or April, you are likely ready to start harvesting. Start succession sowing now for a continuous harvest all the way through early Summer!

DIY your own hanging baskets

I love a good hanging basket but they can be so expensive at the store. A lot of times you might have a leftover hanging basket container from a previous year so why not try and create your own hanging basket? Head to your local garden center, and a lot of times, they have sections labeled “great for hanging baskets.” If they don’t, check out this article from Country Living on 16 Best Flowers to Grow in Your Hanging Basket!

Plant out Dahlia tubers

After all threat of frost, it’s time to get your Dahlia tubers into the ground. Ideally your ground soil will be at least 60°F. Plant them in a spot with full sun and well-draining soil. Take the time to dig a proper hole and amend the soil with a good quality compost.

Start hardening off your warm-season crops

Early in the month, it is best to start hardening off your warm-season seedlings. The ones you have nurtured indoors all late Winter/early Spring need to be acclimated to the outdoors. Gardenary has this excellent step-by-step guide to show you how!

Later in the month: Transplant your warm-season crops

Once your seedlings are properly hardened off and the temps outside in the evening are at least 50°F, it’s time to get your warm-season plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers planted out. May is also a great time to direct sow things like beans, beets, and chard!

Gardening Jobs for May