May · month 5 of 12
What to do in the garden in May
Every job worth doing in May, built from the real care schedules of the plants gardeners grow — with the exact plants that need each one.
Plant in May
Plant in spring. Has a deep taproot, so choose a permanent location.
Prune in May
Pinch back stems by 1/3 before mid-summer (Chelsea Chop) for bushier plants
Spring Cleanup in May
Remove foliage only after it has completely yellowed and died back
Divide in May
Divide clumps every 2-3 years after flowering to maintain vigor.
Fertilize in May
Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.
Deadhead in May
Remove individual spent spikes to maintain a tidy appearance
Mulch in May
Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Check for Pests in May
Check for bright yellow oleander aphids; a strong spray of water can dislodge them.
Stake in May
Install tall stakes early to support heavy flower spikes and prevent wind damage.
Pinch Tips in May
Pinch back stems by half before mid-summer to encourage bushiness.
Propagate in May
Take softwood cuttings to start new plants
Harvest in May
For arrangements, cut stems and sear ends with a flame to stop milky sap.
Spray Treatment in May
Apply fungicide preventatively to manage rust, especially during humid periods.
What's blooming in May
In flower around now.
Frost dates and bloom windows are typical ranges, not guarantees — your microclimate moves them by weeks. Sow uses your real local forecast instead.
May questions
What should I do in the garden in May?
The jobs that matter most this month are plant, prune, spring cleanup, divide. Each section above lists the specific plants that need that job in May — drawn from the care schedules of the plants gardeners actually grow.
Does this calendar change by hardiness zone?
The tasks are the same, but which plants you can grow is not. Pick your zone below to see this month's jobs filtered to plants that survive your winters.
What's blooming in May?
May Night Sage, Walker's Low Catmint, Prairie Phlox, Dwarf Wild Indigo, Wild Lupine and others are in flower around now. The full list is above.
Keep exploring
Nearby months
Get May's tasks for your own plants
Sow builds this checklist from the plants actually in your yard — and adjusts it to your real forecast, so a wet week skips the watering and a frost warning reaches you first.