Garden Jobs to Do in May
Longer days, faster growth… and a garden that suddenly needs your attention
May is all about getting your garden ready for summer. The days are longer, the temperatures are rising, and everything seems to grow overnight. Lawns start racing ahead, borders fill out, and hedges suddenly look like they’ve doubled in size.
It’s one of those months where your garden can either get slightly out of control… or start looking its absolute best. The good news? A little time spent now makes everything easier (and better looking) for the rest of the season.
So, where should you start?
Prepare Soil & Planting Areas
Before you start planting anything new, it’s worth taking a bit of time to get your soil in the best possible condition.
After winter, soil can become compacted, which makes it harder for roots to grow and for nutrients to be absorbed properly. Loosening and aerating your soil now gives plants the best possible start.
It’s also a great time to look at your lawn.
If it’s looking a bit tired, patchy or mossy, using a scarifier can make a big difference. It removes built-up moss and thatch, allowing your lawn to breathe again and absorb water and nutrients more effectively. Think of it as a bit of a reset before the growing season really kicks in.
Plant Summer Bedding & Borders
Once the risk of frost has passed (finally), May is the perfect time to start planting summer flowers and refreshing your borders. This is where your garden really starts to come to life, adding colour, texture, structure and personality that will carry through the rest of the season. As you plant, it’s worth keeping things tidy as you go.
Neat edges make a huge difference to how “finished” a garden looks, even if everything is still growing in. A quick trim around borders, paths and flower beds helps keep everything looking intentional rather than overgrown.
For this kind of detail work, tools like our 2-in-1 Grass & Hedge Shear and our grass trimmers are ideal, giving you that clean, precise finish without overdoing it.
Start Mowing Regularly
If there’s one thing that defines May… it’s mowing season. Grass growth really speeds up now, which means your lawn will need cutting more often. usually once a week to keep it looking its best.
Regular mowing doesn’t just keep things tidy, it actually helps create a thicker, healthier lawn over time. The right mower makes all the difference here.
- Cordless lawnmowers are perfect for convenience and low maintenance
- Electric mowers work well for smaller gardens
- Petrol mowers are still a solid choice for tougher conditions
- And for larger lawns, a ride-on mower can save you hours of effort
If you’re looking to make life easier altogether, robotic lawnmowers are becoming a popular option — quietly keeping your lawn trimmed in the background without you needing to think about it.
Whichever route you go down, the key is consistency. Little and often wins every time in May.
Clear Leftover Debris
Spring always leaves a bit behind. Twigs, fallen leaves, old clippings… it all builds up across lawns, patios and pathways. It might not seem like much, but it can quickly make your garden look untidy.
A quick clear-up makes an instant difference.
This is where a leaf blower really comes into its own, especially if you’ve got a larger space to manage. What could take 30–40 minutes with a rake can be done in a fraction of the time. It’s one of those jobs that’s easy to put off, but once it’s done, everything feels cleaner, clearer and more “finished”.
A Little Effort Now Goes a Long Way
May is one of the most important months in the gardening calendar. It sets the tone for everything that follows. Stay on top of things now and you’ll spend less time catching up later. Your lawn will look better, your plants will establish properly, and your garden will feel like somewhere you actually want to spend time.
And that’s really what it’s all about.
Quick May Gardening Checklist
- Loosen and prepare soil for planting
- Scarify lawn if needed
- Plant summer bedding and refresh borders
- Start mowing regularly (once a week)
- Tidy edges and pathways
- Clear debris from lawns and patios
Final Thoughts
There’s something really satisfying about getting the garden in shape in May.
It’s not quite the peak of summer yet, but everything is building towards it. A bit of effort now means you can spend more time enjoying your garden when the weather is at its best.
So whether it’s a quick tidy-up or a full refresh, now’s the time to get stuck in.
