With just days until the Spring Bank Holiday, Britons everywhere are excitedly planning their long weekends.
Many hope to spend their extra time in the garden, beautifying their outdoor spaces in the final weeks of spring before summer commences.
Bouts of unfortunate weather have been forecasted for the weekend, so you may not be able to spend your whole bank holiday outside. But if you're able to steal some moments in the garden, there are some important tasks to complete now.
A gardening expert has taken to TikTok to share his top tips for this month. With just days until the end of May, it's wise to start now.
'If you're going to reseed your lawn, do this by the end of the month'
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Gardener Michael from the TikTok account @themediterraneangardener said on the sharing platform: "If you're going to reseed your lawn, do this by the end of the month."
According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), spring and autumn are the best times to sow a new lawn from seed.
In an ideal world, it's a task to be completed in mid-spring (March or April) or autumn (September to November).
This is because lawn seeds germinate best in early autumn and mid-spring, as "the soil is warm, there's plenty of moisture, and the weather is neither too cold nor too hot". Germination should take from seven to ten days.
However, Michael assured gardeners they can still achieve bountiful grass if they reseed in May, as long as they hop to it.
He advised green thumbs to apply a nitrogen-rich fertiliser, as this "encourages leafy growth".
Weighing in on the benefits of growing a lawn from seeds, the RHS explained that although it "does take a little longer", it is cheaper than purchasing turf.
Other benefits of seeds are that there's a wider choice of seed mixes to suit different conditions, they are easy to transport, and can be kept until the weather conditions are ideal.
How to sow a lawn
- Weigh out the correct quantity of seeds for your lawn size, following the packet's guidance on weight per square metre.
- Divide the seeds into two equal batches for even distribution.
- Sow the first batch by walking in parallel rows, scattering seeds evenly across the entire area.
- Sow the second batch walking from side to side, creating a perpendicular pattern to the first sowing.
- Lightly rake the area to cover most seeds with soil.
- Water gently with a light spray if no rain is forecast, being careful not to dislodge seeds.
- Protect your seeds from birds by covering them with horticultural fleece, weighted at the edges. This also improves germination by keeping the soil warm and moist. Alternatively, use bird tape, which creates a humming noise in the wind, or increase your sowing rate by 50 per cent to compensate for potential losses.
- Water your new lawn every few days as needed to maintain moisture during the establishment period.
For more information on reseeding your lawn, including choosing the right seed mix, preparing your sowing site, and looking after a new lawn, visit the RHS.
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Gardening enthusiasts were advised to prune their lavender in May 'to stop it getting leggy'
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Another important gardening job to complete in May is pruning lavender "to stop it getting leggy".
Gardeners can also give their outdoor spaces a good clean and reduce the snail population.
It's the perfect time to plant dahlia tubers and cannas "after the risk of frost has passed", tie in the new shoots of climbing plants, and plant out summer bedding and tender annuals.
Finally, gardening enthusiasts can "harden off" (acclimate to the outdoors) tender plants, remembering to bring them in at night, of course.
