Your May Gardening Checklist: Dig In and Grow
Happy May! Spring is in full swing, and by the end of the month, most of North America will be safely past the risk of frost. That means it’s officially time to dig in—literally. These longer, warmer days are perfect for getting your hands dirty and embracing all the beauty and productivity this season offers.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, here’s your essential May gardening checklist to make the most of this vibrant time of year.
May Gardening Checklist
the video version
Prioritize Native Plants
When you visit your local nursery this month, make a beeline for the native plants section. Plants that are indigenous to your region require less water and maintenance, making them ideal for sustainable gardening. Even better? They play a crucial role in supporting local wildlife—especially native bees and butterflies.
Many of these pollinators rely on dwindling populations of specific plants to reproduce. By choosing native flora, you're not just planting a garden; you're helping rebuild a healthy local ecosystem.
For more about growing for wildlife with native plants, check out my Wildlife Gardening Guide!
Keep Sowing Lettuce for a Continuous Harvest
For fresh salads all summer long, keep sowing lettuce seeds every couple of weeks. You can start them in seed trays or do what I often do: scatter seeds for "cut-and-come-again" varieties (also called baby lettuces) in empty garden spots. This approach takes minimal effort and rewards you with a steady stream of greens from now through fall.
Be Patient with Tomatoes & Cucumbers & Peppers
If temperatures in your area aren’t quite warm enough yet, don’t rush your tomatoes, cucumbers, or peppers into the ground. Instead, pot them up to give their roots room to expand and support their rapid growth. Use a larger pot filled with peat-free compost and plant them deep—up to their first true leaves.
Here’s a pro tip: tomatoes will sprout extra roots along buried stems, making your plants stronger and more resilient in the long run.
For more about growing tomatoes, check out my Tomato Growing Guide.
Start Composting If You Haven’t Yet
Let this be the year you finally start composting—especially if you don’t have access to curbside waste collection. An open compost bin or pile works great in many climates, while a lidded hot bin is ideal for colder areas.
Composting is a simple, effective way to close the loop and return food and yard waste nutrients back to your soil—rather than letting them end up in a landfill.
Add Annuals for Summer Color
Once your last frost date has passed, it’s safe to bring some seasonal flair to your garden with annuals. Petunias and nasturtiums are great choices, especially along the edges of raised beds where they’ll spill beautifully onto pathways.
I usually pick up a few from the garden center for an instant pop of color while waiting for my perennials to fill in.
However, avoid adding perennials sold as annuals. There are several reasons to do this one of the most important of which is that it is a huge waste of resources. Read more about why you want to avoid this practice here: Don’t Plant Perennials as Annuals.
Debud First-Year Peonies
Planted peonies recently? Here’s a tough-love tip: debudding them in their first year is essential. Flowering takes a lot of energy, and since peonies are long-lived, it's better to let them channel that energy into establishing strong roots.
You can leave one bud to see what it’ll look like, but remove the rest with a clean pair of secateurs. Trust me—it’s worth the patience.
It’s the merry month of May, and there's no better time to be outside. Gardening nourishes the mind, body, and spirit, so embrace every moment you can in the sun.
Got questions about your garden? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to help. And don’t forget to like and subscribe for more gardening tips throughout the season. Subscribe to my Substack for conversation and email updates, too!
Happy gardening!
Angela
