May Planting: What to Plant and How to Prepare Your Garden in the UK
When it comes to May planting, the period in the UK when soil warms up enough for most outdoor crops but before summer heat sets in. Also known as late spring planting, it’s when gardeners shift from preparation to action—putting in fruit bushes, transplanting seedlings, and locking in weed control before the season gets wild. This isn’t just about throwing plants in the ground. It’s about timing, soil readiness, and knowing what thrives in British weather.
Fruit bushes, like currants, raspberries, and gooseberries, are one of the top choices for May planting. They need cool roots and warm tops—perfect for May’s mild days and still-cool nights. Plant them too early, and frost kills new growth. Too late, and they won’t settle before summer drought hits. Soil prep matters just as much. If your soil’s hard, adding compost or gypsum before planting makes all the difference. And if you’re thinking about organic gardening, a system that avoids synthetic chemicals and builds healthy soil naturally, May is when you start feeding the soil, not just the plants. Coffee grounds, well-rotted manure, or even Aldi compost can kickstart microbial life without harming earthworms or pollinators.
Meanwhile, soil preparation, the process of loosening, enriching, and structuring ground before planting isn’t just a one-time chore. It’s what separates a patchy lawn from a thriving garden. If you’re planting fruit bushes or permaculture beds, you need crumbly, well-drained soil. Tossing seed on dirt? That’s a recipe for disappointment. You need to aerate, mix in organic matter, and test pH—especially if you’re growing strawberries or other acid-loving plants. And don’t forget weed control. Landscape fabric, mulch, and strategic edging keep unwanted plants from stealing nutrients and water from your new crops.
May also sets the stage for everything that comes after. The plants you put in now will shape your harvest in summer and autumn. A well-timed planting of fruit bushes means berries in July. Proper soil prep means less watering in August. Organic methods mean fewer pests and healthier pollinators. And if you’re using vinegar for weed control or Epsom salt for magnesium boosts, May’s moderate temps make those treatments safer and more effective.
Below, you’ll find real guides from UK gardeners who’ve been there—how to plant fruit bushes by region, how to fix hard soil without buying expensive products, why permaculture design works better than traditional rows, and which tools landscapers swear by to keep flower beds clean all season. No fluff. No theory. Just what works in British weather, on British soil, with British plants.