Ornamental Garden:
• This month is a fast period of growth. Late frosts may catch early blooms and soft growth – remove any damaged growth.
• Spray roses with rose clear or similar.
• Weed
• Continue to remove spent flowers of spring bulbs but not the foliage until it has withered and yellowed.
• Chelsea-chop time – If the Nepeta and Sedums are looking leggy then cutback by a third to encourage compact growth that will not collapse later in the season. This can be applied to the lavender, echinops, Echinacea, aster, helenium and salvia too if felt necessary.
• Trim Rosemary, Thyme and Sage if not done in April.
• Cutback withered daffodil or tulip stems once they have turned yellow.
• Trim grass edges of borders regularly to keep neat and tidy.
• Prune spring flowering clematis
• Stake and support herbaceous perennials if necessary
• If daffs gave a poor show lift and divide bulbs and replant.
• Continue deadheading spring bulbs.
• Start hardening off tender plants for planting out.
Veg Garden:
• Harvest Asparagus
• Direct sow french beans and sweet corn if weather is warm enough
• Start earthing up potatoes
• Harvest early crops such as radish / lettuce etc.
• Refrain from planting tomatoes too early as they suffer if exposed to temperatures below 12 degrees.
• Sow pumpkins, cucumbers, courgettes, squashes under cover now and outdoors towards the end of the month.
