May in the Organic Garden 

May in The Organic Yarden – Flowers & Veggies, Let's Grow🥕

Hello lovely Yardeners,

The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing, and your compost heap is warming up — it must be May! This is the month when the garden really wakes up and starts throwing leafy parties everywhere. Whether you're growing food for your plate or flowers for the pollinators (and your soul), there’s lots to be done — and it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

I’ve put together this May in the Organic Yarden double checklist to help you keep on top of everything — with a trowel in one hand and a cuppa in the other. Let’s dig in!

Flower Garden Jobs for May (Zones 8–9 UK & Ireland)

May is when your flower beds start showing off. Here’s how I keep my blooms beautiful and bee-friendly:

🌼 Deadhead Spring Bulbs

Daffodils, tulips and hyacinths can be snipped once the flowers fade, but leave the leaves to feed the bulbs until they go yellow and floppy.

🌼 Plant Summer Bedding

Cosmos, calendula, nasturtiums, marigolds — get them in! These cheerful blooms are pollinator magnets and gorgeous to boot.

🌸 Sow Hardy Annuals Direct

Scatter seeds of cornflowers, nigella, poppies, and larkspur straight into the soil. It’s low-effort and high reward — like magic for the flower bed.

🌱 Harden Off Tender Flowers

Dahlias, cosmos and other indoor-raised flowers need a bit of outdoor training like their veggie cousins. In and out they go.

🪴 Support Tall Perennials

Delphiniums, lupins, and foxgloves can get top-heavy. Add stakes or natural supports now to stop future flopping drama.

🌿 Pinch Sweet Peas

Snip the tips to encourage bushy growth and more flowers. Think of it as a haircut that makes them bloom like mad.

🪵 Mulch for Moisture & Health

Add a layer of compost or well-rotted mulch to suppress weeds, lock in moisture, and give your soil a treat.

🌹 Feed Your Roses

An organic rose feed now will boost healthy foliage and beautiful blooms. Keep an eye out for aphids — and invite ladybirds to the buffet.

💧 Water Early in the Day

Especially important during dry spells. Give new plantings a deep drink before the sun climbs high.

🐝 Attract Pollinators

Add borage, scabious, lavender or Verbena bonariensis to the mix. The bees will come calling, and your veg garden will benefit too.

🪻 Divide Perennials

Primroses and early perennials getting crowded? Divide and replant, or share with your neighbours. Flower karma is real.

🐌 Slug Patrol!

The slimy brigade is back. Use beer traps, eggshells, cucumbers, or just check regularly in the evening. 

Growing Organically is a Joy, Not a Chore

Remember, this isn’t about perfection. It’s about getting your hands dirty, enjoying the sunshine, and growing a little magic in your corner of the world — one carrot, cosmos or cup of compost at a time.

💚 Whether your garden is a balcony, a backyard, or a blooming big field, May is your time to shine.

Happy Growing!

Amber-Jane 🌱

The Organic Yarden