The month of May brings longer days, warmer soil, and the promise of lush summer growth—making it the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and give your garden a jumpstart. At Fran’s Flowers, we believe a little planning and prep now can set your landscape up for a full season of color, flavor, and enjoyment.
Here’s your May checklist to get garden beds, borders, and containers summer-ready!
🌿 1. Mulch for Moisture & Weed Control
Fresh mulch does more than make your beds look tidy—it helps retain moisture as temperatures rise and suppresses weeds before they get a foothold.
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What to do: Apply 2–3 inches of mulch around perennials, shrubs, and trees, keeping mulch a few inches away from the base of plants.
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Fran’s Tip: Choose natural mulches like pine bark, hemlock, or cedar for a clean, classic look—and come by to browse our mulch selection!
🌱 2. Feed Your Plants: Time to Fertilize
Your plants are waking up hungry. May is prime time to give them the nutrients they need to thrive through summer.
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Flower beds: Use a balanced fertilizer like Espoma Flower-tone to support blooming annuals and perennials.
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Lawns: Apply an organic or slow-release lawn food for healthy green growth.
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Containers: Mix in a slow-release fertilizer at planting time, and plan for monthly liquid feedings.
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Fran’s Tip: Don’t forget acid-lovers like azaleas and hydrangeas—Holly-tone is perfect for them!
✂️ 3. Prune Spring Bloomers After They Flower
Spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs, forsythia, and azaleas can be pruned once their blooms fade to shape and rejuvenate the plant.
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Why now? These shrubs bloom on old wood, so pruning too late can remove next year’s flower buds.
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What to do: Remove dead or crossing branches, thin crowded growth, and shape as needed.
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Fran’s Tip: Pruning can stimulate new growth, so follow up with a gentle feeding and a drink of water!
🥕 4. Prep and Plant the Veggie Garden
It’s time to transition from cool-season crops to summer veggies like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.
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Clean up: Remove early crops like spinach or arugula that are bolting.
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Amend the soil: Add compost and organic fertilizer to replenish nutrients.
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Plant warm-season crops: Once the threat of frost has passed, get your tomatoes, basil, zucchini, and beans in the ground!
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Fran’s Tip: Don’t forget flowers! Companion planting marigolds or nasturtiums can deter pests naturally.
🌸 5. Refresh Your Containers & Hanging Baskets
Your pots and baskets are about to take center stage—so get them looking their best!
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Remove tired spring plants and clean out containers.
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Add fresh soil and fertilizer, then plant heat-loving bloomers like petunias, lantana, and calibrachoa.
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Water daily and deadhead spent blooms to keep things thriving.
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Fran’s Tip: Stop in for Proven Winners® annuals, soil mixes, and container inspiration—our team loves helping you design your perfect pot!
🌼 Wrap-Up: Welcome Summer with a Flourishing Garden
A little time spent in the garden this May will pay off all season long. Whether you’re growing flowers, food, or both, we’re here to help make it easy and fun. Swing by Fran’s Flowers for fresh plants, helpful advice, and everything you need to get growing!
Happy planting—and we’ll see you in the garden!