Laidback Gardening: What to Do in May?

No matter how laidback you are, at some point you have to get moving! And May is the perfect time to do so. Tending seedlings, transplanting, planting, pruning, dividing, turning compost… it’s time to ease back into it.

Fortunately, you can at least put off mowing the lawn until the dandelions have finished flowering. And if you can tolerate a little mess, you can also reduce or eliminate weeding the flower beds, or at least leave the pruning debris on the ground. This allows the insects that have overwintered there to emerge in peace… and it nourishes the soil naturally.

Better Late Than Never

Every warm, sunny day revives our desire to garden! The warm season is approaching, but in May, the weather can be deceiving: days can be pleasant, but nights remain cool, sometimes even with light frosts.

At the beginning of the month, the ground is often still saturated with water from melting snow. Walking around the garden—or even on the lawn—can compact the soil, impairing drainage and aeration. And even if the air is warm, the soil takes longer to warm up. Planting too early can cause stress, delay plant growth, and sometimes even cause losses.

Everything in Its Own Time

It is therefore best to postpone certain activities. But don’t worry, there are still plenty of things to do! Pick up any trash that may have accumulated on your property, repair any structures, revive your compost, install plant supports, prepare your tools, and shop for materials. These small steps will help you be ready when the time finally comes to get your hands dirty.

When the ground is dry, you can pick up fallen branches from the lawn and rake lightly. This is also a good time to amend the soil and, if necessary, prune summer-flowering shrubs.

When the risk of frost begins to decrease, you can acclimatize your seedlings outdoors on warmer days, sow certain cool-weather vegetables, and plant tender bulbs. This is also a good time to divide or plant hardy plants such as perennials and shrubs.

With stable nights above 40°F/4°C, you can transplant your hardy seedlings such as lettuce, radishes, and spinach. This is also a good time to plant hardy summer-flowering bulbs.

When all risk of frost has passed and nights remain above 50°F (10°C) – often towards the end of the month or even into June, depending on your location and weather – it’s finally time to transplant temperate seedlings such as tomatoes and basil, as well as your annuals. But wait a little longer before sowing or transplanting very cold-sensitive vegetables such as eggplants, squash, cucumbers, and melons: they need well-warmed soil (18–21°C/64–70°F).

Neither a Sprint nor a Marathon

By spreading your activities throughout the month and doing each thing in its own time, you’ll avoid chaos… and stress. And, for the love of mulch, don’t do everything over the Victoria Day or Memorial Day weekend!

Gardening isn’t a sprint or a marathon. It’s more like a hike: enjoyable but active, with plenty of stops to admire the scenery and appreciate how far you’ve come.

Seedlings

1. Indoor sowing for May: Did you think sowing season was over? Think again! Many plants don’t particularly like spending a lot of time indoors, but they still benefit from the warmth of our homes to germinate and start their lives. Others can be sown directly outdoors, but you can speed up your harvest by a few weeks by starting them indoors. Here are some seeds to sow indoors in early May.
2. Outdoor sowing for May: Once the risk of frost has passed, certain cold-resistant plants such as beets, carrots, lettuce, onions, parsley, parsnips, radishes, etc. can be sown directly in the garden when the soil temperature reaches 7°C. For other, more cold-sensitive plants, wait until the soil reaches 12°C. For warm-weather plants such as beans, cucumbers, squash, and melons, wait until the temperature reaches 21°C.
3. Transplanting your seedlings: Whether you sowed your seeds in small containers, shared containers, or your seedlings grew faster than expected and are now crowded, it is essential that their roots have enough room to ensure their success. They will therefore need to be transplanted into a larger container. Here’s how to do it!
4. Acclimatizing seedlings: Gradually acclimatize the plants to outdoor conditions (UV rays, wind, rain, temperature variations) over a period of 7 to 10 days. Start by placing them in the shade, then in partial shade, and finally in direct sunlight, while monitoring nighttime temperatures.
5. Transplant your seedlings outdoors: The transplanting date depends on the climate and the type of plant. Cool-weather vegetables (e.g., lettuce, leeks) can be planted early, as soon as the nighttime temperature reaches 7°C/45°F. Warm-weather vegetables (e.g., tomatoes) should wait until the temperature reaches 12°C/54°F. Plants that are very sensitive to cold (e.g., eggplant, melon) require 18–21°C (64–70°F) or protection.
6. Protect plants in case of a drop in temperature: Despite all our precautions, frost or an unexpected drop in temperature can jeopardize our hard work. Always keep floating covers, plastic sheeting, tarps, or even blankets on hand so you’re ready when the temperature drops with only a few hours’ notice.
7. Fertilize your seedlings: Start fertilizing seedlings when they have 4 to 6 true leaves.
8. Water the seedlings regularly, checking the soil every 2 to 3 days.
9. A quarter turn for your seedlings: Turn the trays a quarter turn each time you water them, or at least once a week, to prevent the seedlings from leaning toward the light. Here are some other tips for healthy seedlings!
10. Thin out seedlings: when thinning, collect edible young shoots such as lettuce, onion, cabbage, and Swiss chard—your first harvest!

Vegetable Garden

1. Install supports for climbing plants: To save yourself work later in the season when you are busy, install supports now for climbing plants such as peas or beans.
2. Sow under cold protection: Some vegetables can be sown under a mini greenhouse, cold frame, or floating cover starting in April: lettuce, spinach, peas, radishes, and arugula.

Ornamental Garden

1. Delay spring cleaning, or skip it altogether: Waiting until spring temperatures stabilize above 10°C (50°F) to clean up flower beds helps protect beneficial insects such as pollinators, natural predators, and decomposers, which may still be dormant or just emerging from hibernation. Dead leaves and dried stems provide shelter for these insects, which are essential to the ecological balance of the garden.
2. Prune summer- or fall-flowering shrubs as needed: Spring is a good time to prune shrubs that bloom after mid-June, such as Japanese spirea or panicle hydrangea, because they produce flowers on the current year’s growth. Prune them before the leaves are fully out, and only if necessary.
3. For Mother’s Day, give flowers that last: a pretty planter overflowing with color to keep on the balcony or patio, or perennials and flowering shrubs for the flower beds are better than a bouquet that wilts in three days!
4. Plant or transplant perennials, shrubs, and trees: Although plants can be planted in spring, summer, or fall, doing so early in the season is beneficial for hardy plants such as perennials, shrubs, trees, and conifers, which tolerate frost well and acclimatize better when the soil is cool. However, it is important to wait until the soil is well drained to avoid damaging its structure. This cool period reduces the need for watering, allows you to enjoy spring blooms, and avoids the crowds at the nursery.
5. Before planting in your containers, recondition your potting soil: if it is compacted, poorly drained, or depleted, remove 10 to 30% of the old soil, add compost, a little new potting soil, and a slow-release organic fertilizer. Mix well, water, and your substrate will be ready for a new season!
6. Plant tender bulbs: once the risk of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up, plant dahlias, cannas, tuberous begonias, and other non-hardy bulbs that were started indoors or purchased in the spring.
7. Plant hardy summer-flowering bulbs: some hardy bulbs sold in spring (such as crocosmias or triteleias) can now be planted in the ground, ideally around the time of the last frost.
8. Sketch the location of the bulbs: Spring-flowering bulbs are only available in stores starting in September. They should therefore be planted in the fall. But how can you remember where your existing bulbs are so you don’t plant them in the same place? Simple: just make a map of their location when they are in bloom in the spring. Or, even easier, take pictures!

Lawn and Flower Meadow

1. Clean up your lawn: Raking your lawn in early spring is useful for removing dead leaves, fallen branches, and other debris. However, it is important to wait until the ground is no longer soggy after the snow melts to avoid compacting it by walking on it, which would hinder lawn growth. The lawn is ready to be raked when the grass begins to green up, usually two weeks after the snow has melted. Raking too early, especially on wet soil and a still-brown lawn (a common mistake among many gardeners), can actually cause more harm than good. Use a plastic-toothed lawn rake to minimize damage to the grass.
2. Spring topdressing or seeding: If you are eager to improve your lawn, you can topdress or seed as soon as the ground is thawed and slightly dry. However, keep in mind that late summer (mid-August to mid-September) is still the ideal time for long-lasting results: the soil is warm, which stimulates germination, weeds are less competitive, and cool nights promote good rooting. In the meantime, there’s no reason not to start by reseeding bare spots!
3. No Mow Spring: By delaying the first mowing of the lawn, you give dandelions time to flower and provide a valuable feast for bees and other pollinators at a time of year when resources are scarce. A simple, economical and eco-friendly gesture… perfect for laidback gardeners and insects! You can also alternate mowing different areas of the lawn to prevent it from becoming too long everywhere at once.
4. Sow (or prepare) your flower meadow: if the soil is warm enough, go ahead and sow! Otherwise, take advantage of May to weed, loosen, and level the ground—you’ll be ready to go when the weather cooperates.

Houseplants

1. Protect your indoor plants from direct sunlight: Most indoor plants suffer more from a lack of light than from too much, even those considered shade plants, which often prefer abundant light. Damage caused by excessive light, often due to overheating, occurs mainly near south- or west-facing windows or in greenhouses, especially in spring and summer. In winter, almost all plants tolerate full sun. Overheating behind windows can reach 60°C(140°F), affecting even the most tolerant plants. To limit the effects, move plants away from windows, filter the light, create shade outside, or place the most sensitive plants behind protective plants.
2. Clean indoor plants outdoors: For those who prefer not to take their indoor plants outside during the summer, an occasional rain shower or a spray with a garden hose is still recommended to clean the foliage, remove contaminants that clog the stomata, and reduce insect infestations. However, do not leave them in direct sunlight to prevent burns on leaves that are not used to strong light. Wait for a day when the temperature is above 15 °C/59°F.
3. Repot your houseplants: Repotting indoor plants is essential for promoting growth. It is usually done in the spring. Most plants benefit from being repotted once or twice a year, while young, fast-growing plants may need to be repotted twice a year. Mature plants that don’t grow much, such as indoor trees or cacti, can even stay in the same pot for 4 to 7 years.
4. Topdressing large plants: if repotting is impossible (plant too large or heavy), surface dressing is an excellent alternative. This involves removing 2 to 3 cm of soil from the surface, where salts accumulate, and replacing it with new soil.
5. Clean your windows: keeping windows clean allows more light to enter, promoting plant growth. Be sure to clean both sides of the windows for maximum transparency.
6. Take cuttings from your indoor plants: as winter draws to a close and the days grow longer, our indoor plants begin to grow, or will do so very soon. The best time to take cuttings from indoor plants is usually between mid-February and the end of August.
7. Resume fertilizing houseplants: In temperate regions, fertilizing houseplants stops in October as the light decreases and growth slows down. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to resume fertilizing.
8. Adjust watering gradually: As they start growing again, indoor plants often need more water in the spring, but increase the frequency gradually using the golden rule of watering.

Wildlife

1. Clean and disinfect birdhouses, or add new ones: a quick check of the birdhouses once a year is all it takes! Ideally, give them a good clean and repair any damage at the end of winter or very early spring. If you haven’t already done so, put your birdhouses up before the end of April. They will naturally control harmful insects in your garden all summer long!
2. Set up a water source: as soon as temperatures remain above freezing during the day, you can set up a shallow birdbath to provide water for your winged visitors. Be sure to change the water regularly to keep it clean. If cold nights are still expected, a small heated birdbath may be useful.
3. Install hummingbird feeders: these little creatures will usually adopt your feeder for the entire season if it is in place when they arrive!

Compost

1. Gently wake up your compost: turn it over, mix in some fresh ingredients and a handful of soil from the garden to kick-start biological activity!

Other

1. Clean gutters clogged with leaves or debris.
2. Prepare rainwater collectors: Clean them and put them in place before the first heavy rains of spring.
3. Repair your stakes, fences, and trellises: It’s better to fix them now than when they’re covered with plants!
4. Straighten the paving stones: lift those that have become uneven over time, level the ground underneath, then put them back in place to avoid tripping!
5. Clean and test your watering system: outdoor taps, leaky hoses, drip feeders, or sprinklers. A quick test now will save you a lot of frustration during the peak season!
6. Sharpen your cutting tools: pruning shears, loppers, and branch cutters work best when their blades are sharp.