Flowers and bedding
Sweet peas can be planted out now, but don't be tempted to plant out your summer bedding.
Although it is available to buy you shouldn't plant it outside until the end of May. If
you have the space, plant up your containers and baskets in a light frost free area to
grow on. Feed and water them regularly. Sow hardy annuals.
Perennials.
Divide Michaelmas daisies, Rudbeckia, Monarda and Helianthus. Stake Delphiniums towards
the end of the month. Plant out Dahlia tubers at the end of the month and protect from
frost if necessary.
Shrubs and climbers
Evergreen trees can be planted in dull weather. Water any newly planted areas during dry
spells.Cut back Forsythia once it has finished flowering. Cut back Buddleia davidii and
Hydrangea paniculuta hard.
Trees and shrubs
Evergreen hedges and weed and hoe under existing hedges. Water newly planted
trees and hedges during dry spells. Mulch before the soil dries out too much.
Roses
Finish pruning roses as soon as possible. Feed with rose fertiliser. Start tying in new
growth on climbers and ramblers. Mulch beds with well rotted manure. It is fine to plant
container grown roses throughout the year providing that the soil is workable.
Lawn
You may need to mow twice a week if the weather is good. Lower the blades gradually. You
can start using a feed,weed and mosskill product from now on. Roll to firm the roots on
newly seeded lawns. It is alright to turf if the weather is dull and moist.
Vegetables
Plant onion sets and sow salad vegetables. Sow late summer cauliflowers, wrinkle seeded
peas, beetroot, winter cabbage, purple sprouting broccoli and calabrese. Protect potato
foliage from frost and remove rhubarb flowers.
Fruit
Keep a watch for pests on flowering fruit. Make sure that pollinating insects can reach
fruit under glass. Water any new planted fruit in dry spells. Continue spraying.
Pond
Buy and plant new pond and marginal plants. Gradually lower water lilies to their eventual
depth. If you see any pests on your plants remove them by hand. There is too much danger
of contaminating the water if you use a pesticide.
Greenhouse
Increase ventilation and shade young seedlings in sunny weather. Take down any insulation,
such as bubble wrap, towards the end of the month. Plant tomatoes in a cool greenhouse.
Start supporting and pinching out early tomatoes.
Indoors
Water cacti.Continue watering and feed and potting on the rest. Propagate by cuttings or
division any that you would like more of.
