happy gardening May!

For gardeners, May is the loveliest month of the year – as bulbs fade and herbaceous plants start to grow, it is now clear that summer is approaching – leaves are fresh and green and spring is at its richest. Sowing and planting out can begin – there is still the threat of low temperatures at night but don’t forget the double wall of your garden4me raised planter will protect roots from any surprise late frosts.

Handy Monthly Tips

To get the best from your raised planter always use a good quality compost, and either add some slow release fertiliser or a balanced liquid feed every two to four weeks – liquid feed can be added direct into the self-watering reservoir.

Don’t forget the old saying when planting up your display ‘thrillers, fillers and spillers’ – so make sure you plant up around the sides of the container as this will give more impact. And don’t forget to keeping taking off dead flowers during the year and you’ll get more and more growing back.

You can still divide herbaceous perennials now to improve their vigour and create new plants.

Don’t be tempted to cut down or tie up the foliage of any spring flowering bulbs, let them die down naturally.

Trim lavender plants now, cutting off any old flower heads and about 2.5cm (1 inch) of the current year’s growth.

Hostas can be part of a lovely display in your raised garden – now is the time to divide them as they come into growth. Hostas are extremely hardy and resilient and will thrive in shade – they are easy to grow and are available in a wide range of leaf colours, sizes and shapes. Moisture is essential so the self-watering reservoir in your garden4me raised planter will ensure they stay hydrated. Slugs and snails are attracted to these plants but the raised design deters pests and will keep your plants healthy.

Vegetables

Planting vegetables in a garden4me raised planter is a versatile way of growing edible crops in the garden, particularly where space is limited – and is an easy way to enjoy fresh food without the hassles of pulling weeds or tilling the soil. Plus you have the added bonus of its unique self-watering reservoir so your plants will stay hydrated.

To maximize your growing space and thus your harvest plant root crops – plant low-growers and tall climbers together in your raised planter. The climbers will eagerly scramble up a trellis, while the small plants spread around their base. Fertilizer is especially important when you’re growing vegetables – the garden4me planter has a deep growing bed but you are still packing a lot of plants into a small space so they will need added nutrients.

Tomatoes are ideal for your raised planter – and now is the time to plant purchased plants. The first and foremost need of tomatoes is a constant supply of water that keeps the compost moist which they will get from the in-built reservoir without becoming waterlogged. Some suggestions for small-fruited bush varieties are Tumbling Tom Red’, ‘Tumbling Tom Yellow’ and ‘Hundreds and Thousands’ – you should be able to find these at your local garden centre.

Chillies, sweet peppers, salad leaves, chard – are all good additions to your planter and will provide a colourful crop. Fill in gaps with sun-loving herbs such as basil or coriander, or plant nasturtiums to trail over the sides – their bright flowers, peppery leaves and young green seedpods are all edible as well as decorative.

Don’t forget

In May, the garden bursts into life and so does your garden wildlife.

Plant nectar- and pollen-rich herbs such as borage, chives, lavender, rosemary and oregano to attract pollinators.

If you have a lawn, then try and leave a few weeds such as dandelions to provide food for wildlife.

Make sure bird baths and bird feeders are kept topped up to encourage birds.

garden4me Flower of the Month

garden4me Vegetable of the Month

Coming in the June calendar – more handy hints, flower of the month, veg of the month