May Gardening Jobs: What to Do, Plant, and Prune This Month
With longer days, milder nights, and gardens springing into life, May is an exciting time for gardeners in Ireland. From sowing vibrant blooms to setting up summer vegetables, May is your opportunity to shape a thriving, colourful space for the months ahead.
Whether you’re sowing seeds, planting out crops, or simply enjoying your green oasis, this guide will walk you through everything you need to do in May—plus what to plant, what to prune, and how to keep everything healthy and vibrant. For minimal effort and best results check out our top 10 low maintenance garden ideas.
Garden Maintenance and Prep in May
May is when gardens hit their stride—growth is faster, colours are brighter, and tasks shift from tidy-up to maintenance and care. Here's how to keep your garden in great shape:
- Weed little and often: Regular weeding now prevents larger jobs later. Try weeding after rain when roots come out easily. Browse our weed control products for all you need to get started.
- Support climbers and tall growers: Stake peas, beans, delphiniums, and sweet peas before wind or weight causes damage.
- Cut and feed the lawn: Cut weekly, but avoid cutting too short. Apply a spring lawn feed to boost green growth. Explore our range of lawnmowers for efficient trimming.
- Mulch and water: Mulching retains moisture and suppresses weeds. Water early morning or evening for best results.
- Top up containers: Replace surface compost and add a slow-release feed to baskets, pots, and planters.
Use this time to clean bird feeders, scrub pots, and give your greenhouse or cold frame a once-over too.
What to Plant in May: Vegetables, Flowers, Fruits, and Bulbs
With frost behind us in most areas, you can plant with more confidence—and a broader palette of plants. If you’re asking what is good to plant in May, here’s your cheat sheet. Check out our extensive range of seeds to find what you’re looking for.
Vegetables to Plant in May
May is one of the best months for vegetable planting in Ireland:
- Runner and French beans: Sow directly into the soil or in pots for transplanting.
- Courgettes, squash, and cucumbers: Plant out indoor-raised seedlings or sow directly if the weather is mild.
- Sweetcorn: Needs a sunny, sheltered site—sow in blocks for best pollination.
- Tomatoes: Move them outdoors in containers or grow bags once all frost risk has passed.
- Root crops: Continue sowing carrots, beetroot, and turnips directly into well-prepared beds.
- Leafy greens: Sow lettuce, kale, and spinach in short intervals for continuous harvest.
Practice succession sowing—every 2–3 weeks—to keep the harvest going all summer.
Fruit to Plant in May
May is a great month to establish or expand your fruit garden:
- Strawberries: Plant in beds or containers. Feed and water regularly for juicy, sweet fruit.
- Blueberries and raspberries: Plant in acid-rich, well-drained soil. Mulch with pine bark to help maintain pH.
- Melons and tomatoes in greenhouses can now be planted for a heat-loving fruiting season.
Flowers to Plant in May
Still wondering what flowers to plant in May? You have more choices than ever:
- Summer bedding plants: Think petunias, begonias, geraniums, and impatiens for baskets and borders.
- Sunflowers: Fun and fast-growing—great for kids or statement planting.
- Perennials: Plant Echinacea, Rudbeckia, or Salvia now for lasting displays. If you’re looking for a few more options to spruce up your garden - Acanthus, Hardy Geraniums, Delphiniums, Solomon’s Seal, and Aquilegias are all well-suited to Ireland’s mild, damp May climate. They thrive in moist soils, cope with partial shade, and bring long-lasting color and pollinator appeal to gardens.
- Direct sow hardy annuals: Cosmos, marigolds, and cornflowers bring quick colour.
- Climbing flowers: Train sweet peas or morning glories up fences, arches, or trellises.
What Bulbs to Plant in May
Although spring is known for bulb planting, May is ideal for summer bloomers:
- Dahlias and lilies: Plant now for mid-to-late summer drama.
- Gladioli: Plant in succession every two weeks for continuous blooms.
Plant bulbs in rich, well-drained soil and keep them watered until established.
Feeding and Care in May
By May, plants are in active growth and need consistent nutrition and water. Browse our range of plant food to give your plants all of the nutrition they need:
- Feed flowering plants and veg: Use a balanced or high-potash fertiliser.
- Apply mulch: Around vegetables, shrubs, and newly planted flowers to conserve moisture and feed soil microbes.
- Protect against pests: Slugs, aphids, and snails thrive in mild weather. Use beer traps, copper tape, or see our guide on how to control common pests and diseases.
- Pinch out tips: For bushier plants - especially tomatoes, fuchsias, and bedding plants.
Don’t forget to harden off young plants raised indoors before planting out!
Pruning in May
May isn’t a heavy pruning month, but it’s still important for shaping and rejuvenation.
What to Prune This Month
- Spring-flowering shrubs: Once blooms fade, cut back for shape and future flowering. Think forsythia, chaenomeles, and spirea.
- Evergreens: Lightly trim to maintain neat shapes (laurel, privet, etc.).
- Wisteria: Tie in young shoots and prune side growth to 5–6 leaves in early summer.
- Roses: Keep deadheading and tie in vigorous growth. Feed for repeat blooms—learn more in our rose care guide.
Avoid pruning stone fruits now (like cherry or plum). Summer is safer to avoid silver leaf disease.
Extra May Gardening Tips
- Ventilate greenhouses during the day, but close at night to conserve heat.
- Divide spring perennials like primroses and pulmonaria after flowering.
- Check hanging baskets for drying out—add water-retaining gel if needed.
- Thin out seedlings to reduce competition and improve airflow.
- Add water butts or drip irrigation systems before summer heat sets in.
Training young climbers early and planting herbs like basil, coriander, and chives now gives you a bounty by summer.
Prepare Your Garden for a Lush Summer with Woodie’s
May is about action, colour, and creativity in the garden. Whether it’s nurturing vegetables, planting dazzling flowers, or simply enjoying the view with a cuppa, this is the month to make your outdoor space shine. Check out our top June gardening tips to keep the momentum going for next month.
Need a little help or inspiration? Drop into your local Woodie’s garden centre or browse expert advice on the Woodie’s Community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still plant vegetables in May?
Yes! May is ideal for sowing fast growers like lettuce, radish, beans, and planting out tomatoes, courgettes, and cucumbers.
How do I protect new plants from slugs?
Use copper tape around pots, organic pellets, or set beer traps. See our pest control guide.
Should I water every day in May?
Not always. Water deeply but less frequently to encourage strong roots. Early morning or evening is best.
What bulbs can I plant in May?
Dahlias, gladioli, and lilies are perfect for May planting. For vibrant summer displays, stagger planting every 2 weeks.
How can I get more blooms from bedding plants?
Feed regularly, deadhead faded flowers, and keep soil moist. Pinch out tips for bushier growth.
What should I do with spring-flowering bulbs now?
Let the foliage die back naturally to feed next year’s flowers. Lift and divide crowded clumps after yellowing.
Written by
Trevor McCarthy, Woodie's Expert Horticulturist
With over three years of experience at Woodie’s, you can count on Trevor for expert advice on seasonal planting, garden care, and sustainable growing. Passionate about helping gardeners of all levels blossom, you can expect practical tips and specialist plant knowledge in every guide he writes.
