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May Garden To-Do List: Get Your Beds, Borders & Containers Ready for Summer
May
As the days grow longer and the temperatures climb, May is the month when gardens begin to burst with life. It’s the ideal time to roll up your sleeves and prep your outdoor space for a spectacular summer. Whether you’re tending to perennial borders, veggie beds, or container gardens, May’s to-do list ensures healthy growth and abundant blooms. Here’s how to make the most of it.
🌱 1. Refresh Mulch for Moisture and Weed Control
A fresh layer of mulch not only gives your garden a tidy appearance but also helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Spread Espoma Organic Mulch or Coast of Maine’s enriching compost blends around perennials, shrubs, and trees—just keep it a few inches away from the stems to avoid rot.
Tip: Use the time to edge your beds—it makes your garden look professionally maintained.
🌼 2. Fertilize with Purpose
Now’s the moment to feed your plants for strong summer growth. Flowering annuals, vegetables, and roses all benefit from a nutrient boost.
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Use Espoma Flower-tone or Garden-tone for your blooms and edibles.
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For Proven Winners annuals, try Proven Winners Premium Continuous Release Plant Food to keep them thriving all summer long.
Don’t forget containers! Use a liquid feed like Espoma’s Bloom! or Fish Emulsion for a fast-acting nutrient boost.
✂️ 3. Prune Back Spring Bloomers
Once your spring-flowering shrubs (like Forsythia, Azaleas, and Lilacs) finish blooming, give them a trim to maintain shape and encourage next year’s flower buds.
Quick rule: If it blooms before June, prune it soon!
Cut back spent flowers, remove dead or crossing branches, and shape the plant before summer growth takes off.
🍅 4. Prep and Plant Your Vegetable Garden
It’s prime time to plant warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and beans. Ensure your soil is warm and rich with compost—Coast of Maine’s Castine Blend is a fantastic choice for raised beds and veggies.
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Stake or cage tomatoes at planting time.
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Sow succession crops like lettuce or radishes for a longer harvest.
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Water deeply after planting and mulch between rows.
Redwood Nursery offers a wide selection of veggie starts—grown locally and ready to plant!
🌸 5. Fill Containers with Summer Color
May is the perfect time to create your summer container displays. Choose Proven Winners annuals like Supertunias, Luscious Lantana, and Superbells for high-impact color and easy care.
Container Tip: Use Espoma Potting Mix, and be sure to add time-release fertilizer at planting, followed by weekly liquid feeds for continuous blooms.
Need inspiration? Visit Redwood Nursery for ready-made combos or DIY kits you can assemble at home.
🐝 6. Support Pollinators with Native Plants
Join our Plant a Pollinator promotion this May! Include plants like Coneflower, Milkweed, Bee Balm, and native shrubs to create a thriving habitat for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Look for American Beauties Native Plants and Proven Winners Plants at Redwood Nursery—each purchase supports local wildlife and healthy ecosystems.
🌿 Bonus: Download the Redwood Nursery App
Get seasonal to-do lists, how-to guides, special offers, and alerts right on your phone. Plus, track your purchases and access exclusive rewards through Redwood Direct.
This May, a little preparation goes a long way. Mulch, feed, prune, and plant now—and enjoy lush gardens, delicious harvests, and a vibrant summer ahead. Visit Redwood Nursery for expert advice, the best plant selections, and all the supplies you need.
