Pat’s Jobs for May

1. It’s a good time to take softwood cuttings of both tender and hardy perennials such as pelargoniums, anthemis and penstemons. Place in a shady spot until roots begin to form. 

2. Put plant supports in place to stop things flopping and make them yourself from shrubby prunings or just push prunings in the soil around the plant. 

3. I’ve Chelsea chopped my phlox today and also done a few clematis as they are far too tall and leggy after all the rain we’ve had. 

4. Best to wait until the end of the month before putting all things tender outside unless you’re prepared to cover them at night or bring them in. 

5. Cut back pulmonaria hard to encourage a fresh flush of foliage.

6. Slugs and snails abound…the worse year after all the rain so protect vulnerable plants. All my.pea plants have disappeared! 

7. I’m still bringing tomato plants in at night as they suffered badly with low night time temperatures and also got a dose of greenfly. 

8. Potatoes are growing really fast so don’t forget to keep earthing up or you will end up with green potatoes.

9. Sow French and runner beans on a sunny window sill but watch out for greenfly.

10. May sees the beginning of moth flight so make sure to have something in flower for them like honeysuckle or sweet rocket. 

Pat K