May Gardening Tip: Get Your Soil Right Before You Plant
May is one of the most exciting months in the garden — the risk of frost has passed across most of Hampshire and it’s time to get planting. But before you rush to fill your borders, take a day to prepare your soil properly. It’s the single biggest difference between plants that thrive and plants that struggle.
What to Do This Month
Feed your lawn now. Apply a spring/summer lawn feed in May and water it in if rain isn’t forecast. Hampshire lawns coming out of a wet winter will respond quickly and you’ll have a noticeably greener, thicker lawn within two weeks.
Mulch your borders. A 5–7cm layer of mulch (bark chippings or garden compost) applied now locks in moisture through the dry summer months, suppresses weeds and feeds the soil as it breaks down. Do it after rain so you’re locking moisture in, not out.
Plant tender perennials and summer bedding. Agapanthus, Salvia, Verbena and Cosmos can all go out now in Hampshire. Avoid planting on a hot sunny day — choose an overcast morning for the best results.
Check your irrigation. If you have an irrigation system, run it now before the dry weather arrives. Better to find a leak or a blocked head in May than in July when your plants are depending on it.
Helyers’ Hampshire Tip
Hampshire’s chalk and clay soils can be challenging. On clay soils, add horticultural grit when planting to improve drainage. On chalk, add plenty of organic matter — it breaks down quickly but makes a big difference to moisture retention and plant nutrition.
Want a Garden That Looks Good All Year?
Helyers of Hampshire design and build gardens that work with Hampshire’s climate and soil. RHS Silver-Gilt award winners serving Fareham, Winchester, Southampton and across Hampshire.