Gardening calendar May 2024

May is a good month to plant almost any evergreen shrub, tree, ground cover or perennial while there is still warmth in the soil and rain to provide moisture. Through winter these plants usually grow an extensive root system which makes a launching pad for rapid spring growth a few months down the track. The only planting category that is best avoided at this time of the year is the tropicals.

• Planting
• Feeding
• Pruning, Maintenance & Harvest
• Lawn Care
• Pest Control

Planting

Soil

• Enrich soil before planting with Bailey Soil Improver Plus or Baileys Soil Matters Clay & Compost. Designed for sandy soils, Clay & Compost permanently improves nutrient and water holding capacity by combining quality organic compost, aged chicken manure, rock minerals and kaoline clay. This will help your new editions establish well before the cooler months.

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Flowers & Ornaments

• Plant Hyacinths and Tulips in tubs and pots for spring flowering. Enrich the soil with Baileys Soil Improver or if you have very sandy soils, use Baileys Clay & Compost. Bulbs also do very well in pots or planters, use a top-quality potting mix such as Baileys Premium Potting Mix. For more info read our blog - Planting Bulbs in WA. 

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Vegetable & Herbs

• Potatoes can be planted now that reliable rain can take over from hand watering. Potatoes like fertile, friable, moist, slightly acidic soil (pH of approx. 6).  Prepare the ground by digging in compost and manure three weeks before planting. Use Baileys Soil Improver Plus, it contains mature compost and aged chicken manure. For more info read our blog - How to Grow Potatoes in WA. 
• This is a great time to plant the onion tribe. Onions, chives, shallots, leeks and garlic all thrive in cool winter conditions.
• It's not too late to sow broad beans. Remember young foliage as well as flowers can be eaten, both have lovely subtle flavour. 

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Fruits

• Early winter is a great time to plant strawberries now the weather is cool, rains reliable, and plants have a chance to established before spring arrives. 
  They will grow happily in a variety of containers and planters, horizontally, vertically, or even upside down from hanging baskets. Plant directly into quality potting mix made to Australian Standards, such as Baileys Premium Potting Mix or Veg & Herb Planting Mix.  For more info read our blog - Time to Plant Strawberries in WA. 

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Pot Plants

• Now is a great time to pot up some indoor plants. Heading into winter sunlight may not be as reliable and 'rainforest plants' are a good choice - they've evolved with large, glossy leaves to grab as much light as possible. Monstera Deliciosa, aka Swiss Cheese Plant, Fruit Salad or Elephant Ears doesn't need a whole lot of sun and grows really well in dim light. Pot in new Baileys Indoor Premium Potting Mix.

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Suggested Products

CLAY & COMPOST

INDOOR PREMIUM POTTING MIX

PREMIUM POTTING MIX

SOIL IMPROVER PLUS

VEG & HERB PREMIUM PLANTING MIX

Feeding

Edibles

• Baileys Soil Matters Garden is an organic-based, broad-spectrum plant food which can be applied across the entire garden and veggie patch. It's microbial coating is designed to stimulates healthy population of native soil biology and improve nutrient uptake. 

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Pruning, Maintenance & Harvest

Flowers & Ornaments

• Now is a great time to prune; reducing the canopy now means that, come winter, the rain can get to the roots easier. It also reduces the chance of storm damage. As soon as any of your deciduous shrubs and trees have dropped their leaves it's time to start your winter pruning.
  
• If you didn't in April then pruning your roses back now will mean you get one more flush of flower in June.
  
• Prune summer-flowering perennials such as salvias, buddleia and daisies.
  
• Prune Hydrangea stem above two plump buds and remove old branches at ground level.

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