May Garden Checklist: Your Spring Garden in Full Swing!

May is a magical month in the garden. Everything is waking up, blooming, and growing like crazy—and if you’re like us, you can’t wait to dig in! Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an everyday garden guru, here’s your go-to checklist to keep your May garden looking its best.

🌿 1. Plant Summer Stars

Now’s the time to plant your warm-season favorites! In Zones 5–6 and beyond, the threat of frost is (finally!) gone.

• Annuals: Get those colorful annuals like petunias, impatiens, and marigolds in the ground or containers.
• Vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and beans can all be planted now.
• Herbs: Basil, cilantro, parsley, thyme, and more will thrive in the warming soil.

💡 Pro Tip: Mix in Espoma Bio-Tone Starter Plus and Adoria Compost to give new plants a strong, healthy start.

🌸 2. Feed the Flowers

Give perennials and flowering shrubs a dose of balanced fertilizer to promote big, bold blooms. May is the perfect time to feed roses, hydrangeas, peonies, and your freshly planted annuals.

🌼 3. Deadhead & Divide

Snip off spent blooms on early bloomers like daffodils and tulips, but leave the foliage to feed the bulb for next year. It’s also a great time to divide overgrown perennials like daylilies, hostas, and phlox.

🌳 4. Time to Mulch

Refresh garden beds with a layer of mulch to lock in moisture and suppress weeds. Scotts NatureScapes Mulch is a great choice for color and coverage. Aim for 2–3 inches, but don’t pile it against stems or trunks.

🌱 5. Water Wisely

Spring rains are nice, but May can sneak in some dry spells. Water deeply and early in the day to prevent stress and disease.

🛠 Tip: Install soaker hoses or drip irrigation for easy, efficient watering.

🌻 6. Stake Tall Plants

Get ahead of floppy flowers by staking peonies, delphiniums, and tomatoes before they start toppling over. Trust us—your future self will thank you.

🐛 7. Check for Pests & Problems

Inspect leaves and stems for aphids, mites, and disease. Catching issues early means you can treat them before they spread.

🌿 Organic options like neem oil and insecticidal soap are great for staying green while fighting pests.

🐝 8. Attract Pollinators

Add bee- and butterfly-friendly plants like coneflowers, milkweed, salvia, and lavender. Pollinators are key to your veggie garden’s success!

🧤 9. Tidy Up Your Tools

Clean, sharpen, and organize your gardening tools. Give your potting shed or garage a spring sweep—future planting days will go smoother when you’re organized.

🪴 10. Pot Up Patio Planters

Design colorful containers with thrillers, fillers, and spillers. Be bold! This is your time to shine.

🎉 Bonus Tip: Celebrate Your Garden!

Invite friends over, enjoy coffee among the blooms, or snap a few photos of your handiwork. May is when your hard work begins to blossom—literally!

Ready to Get Growing?
Shop plants, fertilizers, mulch, tools, and garden décor online or in-store. And don’t forget—you can pre-order summer beauties at ShipMyPlants.com and have them delivered right to your door!

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