The Gardener's Diary: May Highlights
The Gardener’s Diary: May at Kilver
Words from our Head Gardener, Chris Inchley
May is one of the most rewarding months in the garden. At Kilver, the landscape comes alive with a flush of colour, particularly from the alpines in the rockery. Saxifraga, Armeria, Iberis, Ajuga, Helianthemum and Pulsatilla are all flowering now, their delicate blooms providing beautiful contrast against the rugged texture of the stone.
This is also a great time to sharpen any lawn edges that may have softened over winter. We use our trusty half-moon edging tool, followed by regular trimming with long-handled lawn shears to keep things looking crisp. Lawns are an essential part of Kilver’s design – they provide structure and space for the garden to shine.
We apply our summer lawn fertiliser in May. This year, after testing the soil, we found raised phosphorus levels under some areas. While phosphorus supports root growth, too much of it can block the uptake of other important nutrients. We'll be applying a fertiliser with reduced phosphorus to ensure balance and health across our lawns.
Later this month, we’ll be planting out our half-hardy perennials – including Cannas and a new selection of Dahlias to add extra interest to the Parterre beds. Once planted, it's important to water them regularly until they establish, and to keep container plants well-fed and hydrated too.
A real talking point this month is Poncirus trifoliata, now in flower. Its dainty blooms are a striking contrast to the thick, spiny branches – and we look forward to seeing its fruit develop in autumn.
Over in the newly refurbished vegetable garden, the first and second early potatoes are up. We’ll be earthing them to protect against any surprise frosts. We've also sown radish, beetroot, carrot and parsnip – all of which will need careful thinning as they emerge to ensure strong, healthy crops.
It’s a busy and exciting time at Kilver, and we hope you’ll enjoy seeing the garden burst into life over the coming weeks.
