MAY IN THE GARDEN
Judy & Dave Pollitt's Garden

This is my favourite month of the year. The hedgerows are full of Cow Parsley looking like a froth of lacy wedding veils. It is also known as Queen Anne’s lace. You can grow it in the wilder parts of the garden or in the orchard but do beware as it spreads. The woods are full of bluebells and wild garlic and the primroses are still present as the weather has been so wet and cool.

Now the lawns will keep growing and need cutting, start with a high setting on the mower, gradually lowering the blades over the next few weeks. Remember just trimming the edges of the beds and borders will create a tremendous difference making the garden look so much neater.

The perennials will all be forming nice mounds or getting taller now so this is the time to put in the supports. Metal half hoops are easily pushed into the soil and are soon hidden by luxuriant foliage. Hazel twigs can also be used if you have a ready supply, bent willow branches can be intermeshed into a loose dome to support multi-stemmed plants that are lax in their growth. A tall support with a single loop can be used to support a prize bloom from wind damage.

Keep up with the weeding always a boring task. There is still time to sow more annuals and half - hardy annuals to fill in the spaces between the perennials in the green house or cold frame or on a windowsill. Earlier sown seeds can be pricked out now into fresh compost.  Larger seedlings and cuttings taken last year can be hardened off prior to planting out in the garden or containers at the end of the month.

Check the lilies both in pots and the garden for the evil red lily beetle and kill any you see. Be quick because if they fall to the ground they land on their backs you won’t spot them easily as their undersides are black. These little beasties also attack fritillaries.

In the greenhouse the tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers and squashes should be nice plants now. Start hardening off those that are going into the garden in June but don’t let them get cold. Broad bean tops can be pinched out to prevent black fly; runner beans and French beans can be sown towards the middle of the month or under cloches now. I always sow some in pots in the greenhouse too. Buy yellow sticky flytraps to keep aphids from your precious seedlings. It’s a good idea to have some French Marigolds to deter these pests and attract bees and hover flies to the vegetable patch too. These are very easy and quick from seed. Basil can now be sown to plant out when it is warm in mid to late June, it compliments the flavour of tomatoes.

The asparagus season is with us now and can be picked for about six weeks. It will be late in open ground the spears only just appearing.

The Malvern Show is the highlight of the month. It is a wonderful day out and runs from the 8th to 11th of May. Locally Hanbury Hall near Droitwich is holding its annual Plant Sale on Sunday May 11th. This is a wonderful opportunity to buy excellent plants grown by volunteers at an exceptional low price and also raise funds for the National Trust gardens there. It is all organised by the Head Gardener and his team who supply more lovely plants and shrubs. The usual entry fee applies. Get there early, as there is always a queue to go in at 11am and a big rush to get the pick of the plants. A visit to Spetchley Park in mid to late May to see the paeonies is always a treat.
Judy & Dave's garden has a spectacular show of irises when in season, but has something of interest all the year round.