May is one of the most glorious months in the Indiana garden. Here in Indianapolis, we’re weeding, mulching the garden, and pruning spring-blooming shrubs and trees. Once the frost-free date passes in mid-May, we start planting summer container gardens and tender herbs. We love May!
What To See in the May Garden
- Peonies burst into bloom in yards in May, accompanied by Siberian iris and the first of the roses.
- Woodland flowers finish their spring blooming, while geraniums are hitting their stride.
- Trees are setting fruit. Watch for tiny apples, crabapples, pears, and cherries.
What to Do This Month
There’s so much to do in the garden in May! Contact us for a free estimate for landscape work in Indianapolis.
- Mulching beds and tree rings with hardwood mulch to provide weed suppression and water retention.
- Completing hardscape projects or improving site drainage.
- Designing and installing new gardens.
- Pruning early- to mid-spring flowering shrubs and trees, such as viburnum and lilac.
- Scheduling garden coaching. Our coach can help you identify plants, offer design ideas, suggest solutions for problem spots, or give a hands-on lesson in pruning.
- Planting containers and window boxes with summer plants like coleus, impatiens, pot geraniums, and petunias.
Other Tasks in the May Garden
- After May 12, we’ll plant out tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and other transplants. We’ll also sow warm-weather vegetables like beans, pumpkins, squash, corn, and edamame directly into the garden.
- Once the summer vegetables are planted, we’ll mulch the kitchen garden.
- We’re harvesting asparagus, rhubarb, early strawberries, and early plantings of spring vegetables.
- If you want to fertilize your lawn in spring, May is the best time. Try a good organic fertilizer, such as WOW! Plus, instead of a synthetic one.