by Janis on 30th May 2025 / 0 comments
Planting and weeding were on the cards
As I write this post, we’re having a very welcome downpour of rain in the southeast of the UK. The garden beds and lawn have been crying out for rain, so it’s great to see, although not so suitable for the families who have their children on school holidays.
This is a beautiful time of year in the garden; there are now so many stunning blooms popping open throughout the beds. However, it’s also a challenging time keeping up with the weeds.
Recently, the weather has been kind enough for us to dust off the BBQ. We’ve already managed to squeeze in a few lunchtime and evening treats; however, there’s nothing better than spending a few hours in the garden, then sitting down and enjoying a bratwurst or two and a cold beer while listening to the birdsong.
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What we’ve been up to in May
In the garden and on the websiteAfter a few months of nurturing my seedlings from the tiniest of shoots to juvenile plants, ushering them from the warmth of our conservatory to hardening up in the cold frame, it’s time for me to plant up the remaining few.
Happy bedfellows
Iris – Kent Pride
I’ve planted our home-grown tomato plants in their respective troughs and pots, although I have a few over which I need to give away. I’ve used the tomato planting technique that Monty Dom recommended on Gardener’s World, and it works a treat.
I have continued to maintain the two front garden beds after finally deciding on the new display. I chose two roses named ‘Hot Chocolate’ floribunda as the centrepiece, which I bought from a nursery that specialises in roses called Rumwood Nurseries, it is just outside of Maidstone and offers an online service too.
Our ‘Hot Chocolate’ rose
Surrounding each rose are six hebes in various colours, from lime green to dark purple. To ensure the beds retain moisture and help suppress weeds, I have topped the beds off with a generous layer of bark.
The roses are just starting to bloom, and I can’t wait to smell the sweet aroma.
Last year, we scattered some packets of seeds through the Cottage Garden bed. One variety was Love-in-a-Mist, and remarkably, they seeded have returned in full glory this year.
Love-in-a-Mist in our Cottage Garden
I’ve also finished filling up our patio pots with bedding plants, and I’m looking forward to months of striking blooms bursting with colour. I have four pots with obelisks in them, so `I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the Morning Glory and the Thunbergia do me proud.
We’ve just purchased our first water feature, which we’ve installed on the patio, and I love it. It is energy-efficient, which is excellent, and it was also just a plug-and-go solution. So, after a little levelling up, it was up and running in no time at all.
Our new water feature
We have eight chilli plants, which I grew from seed, and after potting them onto terracotta pots, they are coming on leaps and bounds. The mix of varieties are Hungarian Hot Wax, Scotch Bonnet, and Cayenne Hot Lemon.
Achievements for May
Let’s keep ticking those boxesWe had some gorgeous weather in the first few weeks of May, so it's been a delight working in the garden, even if it has been on our hands and knees weeding. Although I managed to fill most of our patio pots with plants, which is quite an achievement, considering we have so many.
Peony – Coral Sunset
So, let’s see what we’ve managed to tick off for May.
Laid landscape bark across our two front garden beds.
Potted up own tomato and chilli plants
Weeding the Cottage Garden bed.
Filled the majority of our pots with bedding plants.
Remove the dead section of Contorted Hazel.
Ensure we top up the bird feeders as they’re very hungry, especially the starlings.
Keep the garden waste bin as full as possible.
Installed our new water feature.
Added Tarragon and Basil to our herb garden.
Lessons learnt & mistakes made
You live and learnI think we should have pruned some of our shrubs and trees back more because now that the birds are nesting, we need to wait a couple of months, and some are getting a little out of hand.
However, in the meantime, we’re enjoying the roses.
Rose - Handel
Our plans for the coming month
What’s on your to-do list?Ensure the front garden beds are establishing.
Continue to re-develop the raised bed area.
Pot on the last few seedlings.
Weed the driveway using a scraper.
Plant out the nasturtiums, sunflowers, and lupins.
Continue clearing weeds and unwanted planting in the Cottage Garden section.
Plant the remaining bedding plants for the patio.
Clean the conservatory.
Please let us know what you have planned for your garden this month; we’d love to hear about it.
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