Finish sowing hardy annual flowers outside in May. Later sowings will result in later blooms
Sprinkle general purpose fertiliser around clumps of spring-flowering bulbs. Ensure permanent shrubs and hedging are given a generous feed using this
Remember to place support frames over tall or floppy perennials
Prune back the flowering stems of hellebores as soon as blooms are past their best
Tidy alpine plants by lightly trimming off dead flowers once they have faded. You can also pot up rooted portions separately
Plant out young chrysanthemums raised from cuttings, planting each one next to a tall cane
Buy young plants for pots and containers as well as for bedding displays. Most need to be potted into 3 inch pots and grown on in warm, bright conditions ready for planting out at the end of May
Continue sowing seeds of summer bedding plants. Thin out those in trays, or prick them individually into pots
Hoe borders once a week to prevent weed seedlings establishing
Collect rainwater and investigate ways to recycle water for irrigation
Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days
Put out nesting boxes for migrant birds arriving in the UK, top up the bird feeder and start putting food out on the ground and bird tables
Remove duckweed and blanket weed from ponds
