Top Gardening Tips for May from Head Gardener Paul Scriven
I’m very lucky to have a job I am passionate about.
At this time of year, you really start to see where all the hard work you completed through the Winter months is paying off.
Colourful blooms are popping up all over the Secret Garden right now and we’re all waiting in anticipation for the Alliums to burst out!
Our two horticultural apprentices; Mandy and Dom, are doing really well and helping me out with technology too! We even have a gardening team ‘WhatsApp’ group - it’s all new to me!
Oh the anticipation . . .
The Alliums in the Rose Garden have really shot up over the last couple of weeks, we can’t wait for them to burst in to colour!
Anyway, here are my top gardening tips for May, I hope you find them useful.
Prune early flowering shrubs that have now finished flowering.
Tie in new growth of climbing plants on a regular basis.
Stake taller perennials.
Spray roses fortnightly with a sulphur solution to deter black spot, make sure to check shoots for aphids.
Water newly planted trees and shrubs, ideally in the evening. Ensure they are well mulched to deter weeds and maintain moisture.
Some very careful watering indeed!
6. Shade young plants as greenhouses can get VERY hot on sunny days.
7. Check for pests and diseases on a regular basis from now on - healthy, strong growing plants will be much less susceptible to attack. Feed well where necessary and mulch to retain moisture levels.
8. Subject to weather conditions, move your half-hardy plants outside for the Summer. But, continue to be very vigilant with tender plants to late frost.
9. Begin taking softwood cuttings from shrubs and tender perennials.
10. Begin planting out tender vegetable crops.
Thank you so much for reading my top tips. If you’d like a little extra help with your garden, I am now offering Q&A sessions on Friday mornings around 11am in the Reclaimed Barn (these sessions are FREE to attend if you book admission tickets for a Friday visit). I also run Garden Tours on the last Friday of the month if you’d like to learn more about the plants we have at the Secret Garden.
See you soon
Paul Scriven
Head Gardener at Careys Secret Garden
