May 

 I-I5 



THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



MAY— First and Second Weeks 



May is " bedding-out month " in the garden, and in 

 mild districts tender plants are put out during the first 

 half of the month. The bedding system still keeps its 

 grip on public gardens, and with the advent of May the 

 superintendents clear their bulb beds in order to prepare 

 the soil for fresh plants. Window gardens, too, change 

 their garments. Seedling plants sown out of doors are 

 thinned. 



There is not much to do among outdoor fruits, but 

 indoor fruit demands constant attention. 



Seedling vegetables are thinned, and a few late 

 sowings are made. 



Window Gardening 



Window Boxes. — The duration of the spring display 

 depends upon the kinds put in during autumn. If they 

 were all bulbs, they will be over now ; if Wallflowers 

 and Primroses were included, they may still be bright. 

 I do not suggest the hasty dismantling of a window box 

 early in May, because the end of the month is time 

 enough to replant for summer. But brown Hyacinth 

 spikes, and Tulips with only one draggled petal left, are 

 not beautiful. If the boxes contain nothing better than 

 these, they may as well be overhauled at once. The 

 bulbs may be transferred to a remote place in the garden, 

 the flower stems removed, and the bulbs covered with 

 soil. The soil had better be removed, and the drainage 

 rearranged. If the soil was fresh in autumn, it would do 

 again, but it is wise to add some fresh, and to mix all 

 well together. If a compost is being prepared, let the 

 greater part of it be fibrous loam : a quarter of leaf 



