Getting out into the fresh air and pottering in your garden or allotment is one of the great joys of spring.
It’s a lovely time to flex your green fingers and get your lawn in tip-top condition. Plus, you can start sowing, planting, growing and weeding, with lighter nights and longer days, giving you even more time outdoors.
The power of nature: great for your physical, mental and emotional health
Being out in nature has long been considered beneficial for our mental and physical wellbeing. And this is now backed by science.
Research from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) found that those who garden every day had wellbeing scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than people who don’t garden at all.
“Green social prescribing” has also been introduced by NHS England as a way to encourage people to engage in nature-based activities.
These include community gardening projects and conservation volunteering, with growing evidence that this type of intervention can boost wellbeing and reduce loneliness.
If you have your own garden or allotment, you’ve got access to your own haven of happiness, and it’s a lovely time of year to enjoy it.
10 important jobs you can do in your garden and allotment in May
In your garden
1. Step away from your lawnmower
“No Mow May” is a campaign by Plantlife, which is becoming increasingly popular with gardeners. Instead of mowing your grass, leave it to its own devices, allowing wildflowers to grow freely and creating a beautiful habitat for bees, butterflies and other wildlife.
You could let your whole lawn grow wild or just leave a small patch – every little helps! And while it’s called “No Mow May”, that doesn’t really mean you have to start mowing again in June. Leave it a few more months to let your new habitat take hold.
2. Plant out your summer bedding
This is best done later in the month, when the risk of any last frosts is over. Go for summer bedding or hardy perennials and create colourful displays using an array of bright and different-sized containers.
Try to group plants with similar requirements, such as shade or daily watering. And remember, for real longevity, go for plants that flower over a long period.
3. Check for nesting birds
Now is a good time to prune your garden hedges, but as nesting season runs from March to August, make sure you won’t be disturbing any birds.
While most of us want to care for the wildlife in our gardens, it’s also actually an offence to damage or destroy the nest of a wild bird while it’s in use or being made.
4. Be mindful of water usage
Your garden and plants will start to need watering as the weather gets warmer, but it’s important to preserve essential water supplies.
If you have space, use a water butt to collect rainwater. If not, there are still things you can do, such as using a watering can instead of a hosepipe or increasing the water-holding capacity of your soil by adding compost or mulch.
5. Prepare your hanging baskets
These can add beautiful colour pops to your garden and have the added advantage of not taking up much space. Now’s a good time to get them planted, but keep them in a greenhouse for a few weeks before taking them outside.
In your allotment
6. Earth up potatoes
Mounding soil around the stems of your potatoes will help to protect them from any frost damage. It also protects them from light, which can make them inedible.
As your shoots start to grow, draw the soil up around them and keep repeating the process as they continue to get taller. Leave about 10 cm of the stems visible.
7. Keep weeds in check
Little weeds quickly become big problems, and spring is one of their favourite times of year. Left alone, they can smother your plants and prevent them from growing properly, acting as parasites for the light and nutrients plants need.
8. Plant out your vegetables
Seeds that you’ve started indoors can now be planted, such as beetroot, cabbage, parsnips and peas. You can also plant some early seedlings, like leek or sprouts.
9. Remember the greenhouse
Although being outdoors is lovely in spring, you’ll still need to keep an eye on your greenhouse. Make sure there’s plenty of ventilation and keep your pots, plants, and growbags watered.
10. Build your supports
Climbing crops like runner beans need robust supports for their growth, so make sure yours are strong enough to withstand the weather and take the extra weight of the crops as they grow.
Get in touch
We might not be there to help you with weeding, but if you’re looking for an independent financial adviser in Milton Keynes or Olney to help you spring clean your long-term money plans, look no further.
At Jane Smith Financial Planning, we’ve been helping clients for 30 years, so contact us at info@janesmithfinancial.com or call 01234 713131 to see what we can do for you.
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