Things to Do in the Garden Over May Bank Holiday

With some more warm weather on the way for most parts of the UK, now’s a great time to be getting out into the garden. If you’re not heading off on holiday this weekend, you might like to get out your trowel, rake and pruning shears or pop down to the local garden centre to find some splashes of colour to add around the house.

Clear Out the Weeds

You either enjoy it or you don’t but keeping control of weeds is a constant problem in most gardens. If you have pets and don’t want to use pesticides, it’s really a case of getting down on your knees and mucking in on a regular basis. Especially after the recent bout of wet and warmer weather, you’ll find that your garden really coming to life.

The key is in getting to know your wildflowers. If you like your garden beds pristine and ordered, all well and good. But if you prefer something where the colours can surprise on occasion, you might want to leave some of those wildflower varieties to bloom. You might also like to look at those flowers that have already started to fade, including daffodils. Deadheading these can ensure that next year’s crop comes up even more spectacularly.

Put Up Hanging Baskets

Now is the perfect time to get those hanging baskets up and they can make a big difference to any home. If you’re working from last years baskets, then refreshing the compost before planting is a good idea.

There are plenty of different choices available nowadays and most of these should now be available in your local garden centre. From Creeping Jenny to fabulous fuchsia, traditional nasturtium and sweet potato vine you can mix and match to your heart’s content.

Obviously, what you want are plants that are going to rise up and spill over the side of your basket. Regular watering is key also, especially if you have baskets that are partially concealed under the roofing and not open to the elements.

Visit Your Local Garden Centre

If you want to find some really interesting plants, the bank holiday weekend is also a great time to pop down to your local garden centre. You’ll find a more interesting mix than in or around the DIY store and the local supermarket, and you’ll be supporting smaller local businesses at the same time.

If you love the idea of growing your own herbs, this is the best time to see what’s on offer whether you’re planting in the garden or in pots. You can find interesting herbs like lemon balm and even fresh oregano if you look hard enough nowadays. There are even selections of vegetables to choose from if you want to try your hand at growing your own produce.

Dealing with Slugs and Snails

Of course, with all your plants starting to burst into life, there’s one perennial problem that you are going to have to take care of. Slugs and snails seem to be in ever more abundance nowadays and they can quickly lay waste to practically every part of your garden. There are many hints and tips about dealing with these pests and you may well have your favourite. If you want to avoid using slug pellets, however, getting some good advice from a local gardening expert is important.

Think About a Garden Re-design

The long weekend is also a great time to consider whether your garden needs a redesign. Perhaps you want to know how to make more of your space or maybe you’d like to install something new and exciting like a water feature.

If that’s the case, give our garden design team a call today on 0116 210 0760 and find out what can be achieved.