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Gardening tips by month

May gardening tips: what to prune, feed & protect

A May garden checklist built from our plant care guides. Garden jobs depend on your local frost dates, so tasks are grouped for cold, moderate and mild climates. Find yours below, then tap any plant for full step-by-step instructions.

May in cold winters (zones 3–5)

Pruning in May

  • Azalea: prune right after flowering (May 31 – Jun 28)
  • Bigleaf hydrangea: light spring prune (old flower heads and dead stems only) (Apr 26 – May 24)
  • Black-eyed Susan: cut back last year's growth (Apr 12 – May 10)
  • Butterfly bush: cut back hard (Apr 26 – May 24)
  • Catmint: cut back last year's growth (Apr 12 – May 10)
  • Clematis: late-winter prune (Groups 2 and 3) (Apr 12 – May 3)
  • Clematis: prune Group 1 clematis after flowering (May 24 – Jun 14)
  • Climbing rose: late-winter tidy and train (Apr 12 – May 3)
  • Coneflower: cut back last year's growth (Apr 12 – May 10)
  • Forsythia: prune right after flowering (May 3–31)
  • Garden mum: cut back last year's growth (Apr 12 – May 10)
  • Glossy abelia: late-winter thin and shape (Apr 12 – May 10)
  • Hybrid tea rose: main spring prune (Apr 12 – May 3)
  • Juniper: selective trim (Apr 26 – Jun 7)
  • Lavender: spring shaping (May 10–31)
  • Lilac: prune right after flowering (May 31 – Jun 28)
  • Magnolia: light prune after flowering (May 24 – Jun 21)
  • Mint: cut back last year's growth (Apr 12 – May 10)
  • Ornamental grasses: cut back to the ground (Mar 29 – May 3)
  • Panicle hydrangea: late-winter prune (Mar 29 – May 3)
  • Peach / nectarine: prune into an open vase (Apr 19 – May 10)
  • Perennial salvia: cut back last year's growth (Apr 12 – May 10)
  • Redbud: structural prune after flowering (May 24 – Jun 21)
  • Rose of Sharon: late-winter prune (Mar 29 – May 3)
  • Russian sage: cut back woody stems (May 3–24)
  • Sedum (stonecrop): cut back last year's growth (Apr 12 – May 10)
  • Shrub / landscape rose: annual cut-back (Apr 12 – May 3)
  • Smooth hydrangea: cut back hard (Mar 29 – May 3)
  • Spirea: late-winter cut-back (Mar 29 – May 3)
  • Thyme: spring trim (May 10–31)
  • Weigela: remove winter dieback (May 10–31)
  • Yew: prune or shear (Apr 12 – May 10)

Fertilizing in May

Spraying & disease prevention in May

  • Apple tree: scab and rust protection sprays (Apr 26 – May 10)
  • Apricot tree: brown rot protection at bloom (Apr 12 – May 3)
  • Asian pear: fire blight protection during bloom (Apr 26 – May 17)
  • Boxwood: preventive spray in wet spring weather (blight-prone areas) (May 24 – Jun 7)
  • Climbing rose: preventive spray for black spot (May 31 – Jun 7)
  • Flowering dogwood: anthracnose prevention (wet springs) (May 3–17)
  • Grapevine: black rot and mildew protection (May 24–31)
  • Hosta: early slug control (May 3–24)
  • Hybrid tea rose: clean-up spray after pruning (Apr 19 – May 10)
  • Hybrid tea rose: preventive spray for black spot (May 31 – Jun 7)
  • Pear (European): fire blight protection during bloom (Apr 26 – May 17)
  • Pecan tree: foliar zinc sprays (young trees) (May 24–31)
  • Peony: botrytis prevention (wet springs) (May 3–24)
  • Plum tree: curculio protection (May 31 – Jun 14)
  • Walnut tree: walnut blight protection (May 10–24)

Soil, compost & mulch in May

Frost & winter protection in May

  • Apricot tree: protect blossoms from frost (Apr 5 – May 10)
  • Kiwi vine: protect new shoots from late frost (Apr 19 – May 17)
  • Strawberry: pull back winter mulch (Apr 19 – May 3)

Other care in May

  • Black-eyed Susan: divide crowded clumps (every 3–4 years) (May 3–31)
  • Hosta: divide crowded clumps (every 3–4 years) (May 3–31)
  • Ornamental grasses: divide crowded clumps (every 3–4 years) (May 3–31)
  • Peony: set up supports (May 10–31)
  • Tomato: plant out tomatoes (May 17 – Jun 7)

May in moderate winters (zones 6–7)

Pruning in May

  • Apple tree: thin young fruit (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Apricot tree: thin young fruit (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Arborvitae: light trim after new growth (May 27 – Jun 24)
  • Asian pear: thin young fruit (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Azalea: prune right after flowering (May 6 – Jun 3)
  • Bearded iris: remove spent flower stalks (May 27 – Jun 17)
  • Boxwood: shape after the spring growth flush (May 13 – Jun 10)
  • Camellia: prune right after flowering (Apr 1 – May 13)
  • Cherry tree: thin young fruit (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Clematis: prune Group 1 clematis after flowering (Apr 29 – May 20)
  • Coneflower: optional 'Chelsea chop' for bushier plants (May 20 – Jun 3)
  • Fig tree: remove winter damage and shape (Apr 8 – May 6)
  • Flowering dogwood: minimal prune after flowering (May 13 – Jun 10)
  • Forsythia: prune right after flowering (Apr 8 – May 6)
  • Garden mum: pinch back for bushy plants (May 13–27)
  • Grapevine: shoot thinning and leaf pulling (May 20 – Jun 17)
  • Hazelnut / filbert: remove suckers (May 13–27)
  • Juniper: selective trim (Apr 1 – May 13)
  • Lantana: cut back in spring (Apr 15 – May 6)
  • Lavender: spring shaping (Apr 15 – May 6)
  • Lilac: prune right after flowering (May 6 – Jun 3)
  • Magnolia: light prune after flowering (Apr 29 – May 27)
  • Peach / nectarine: thin young fruit (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Pear (European): thin young fruit (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Plum tree: thin young fruit (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Plum tree: main prune in early summer (May 27 – Jun 24)
  • Quince: thin young fruit (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Redbud: structural prune after flowering (Apr 29 – May 27)
  • Rhododendron: deadhead and light prune after flowering (May 20 – Jun 17)
  • Rosemary: shape after flowering (Apr 15 – May 13)
  • Sedum (stonecrop): pinch back for sturdier stems (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Strawberry tree: light shaping after winter flowering (Apr 1 – May 13)
  • Tangerine / mandarin: light prune after harvest (Apr 15 – May 13)
  • Thyme: spring trim (Apr 15 – May 6)
  • Tomato: remove suckers and lower leaves (May 20–27)
  • Viburnum: prune right after flowering (May 13 – Jun 10)
  • Weigela: remove winter dieback (Apr 15 – May 6)
  • Weigela: prune right after flowering (May 27 – Jun 17)

Fertilizing in May

Spraying & disease prevention in May

  • Apple tree: scab and rust protection sprays (Apr 29 – May 13)
  • Apple tree: codling moth and curculio protection (May 13–27)
  • Azalea: check for lace bugs (May 20 – Jun 3)
  • Boxwood: preventive spray in wet spring weather (blight-prone areas) (Apr 29 – May 13)
  • Camellia: oil spray for tea scale (Apr 29 – May 20)
  • Climbing rose: preventive spray for black spot (May 6–13)
  • Flowering dogwood: anthracnose prevention (wet springs) (Apr 22 – May 6)
  • Grapevine: black rot and mildew protection (Apr 29 – May 6)
  • Hosta: early slug control (Apr 29 – May 20)
  • Hybrid tea rose: preventive spray for black spot (May 6–13)
  • Pecan tree: foliar zinc sprays (young trees) (Apr 29 – May 6)
  • Peony: botrytis prevention (wet springs) (Apr 22 – May 13)
  • Plum tree: curculio protection (May 6–20)
  • Tangerine / mandarin: check for scale, mealybugs and aphids (May 27 – Jun 10)
  • Tomato: preventive spray for early blight (May 27 – Jun 3)
  • Walnut tree: walnut blight protection (Apr 22 – May 6)

Soil, compost & mulch in May

Frost & winter protection in May

Other care in May

  • Black-eyed Susan: divide crowded clumps (every 3–4 years) (Apr 8 – May 6)
  • Hosta: divide crowded clumps (every 3–4 years) (Apr 8 – May 6)
  • Mulberry: harvest mulberries (May 27 – Jul 8)
  • Ornamental grasses: divide crowded clumps (every 3–4 years) (Apr 8 – May 6)
  • Peony: set up supports (Apr 15 – May 6)
  • Shrub / landscape rose: check for rose rosette disease (May 27 – Jun 10)
  • Tomato: plant out tomatoes (Apr 22 – May 13)

May in mild winters (zones 8–10)

Pruning in May

  • Apple tree: summer pruning: remove water sprouts (May 20 – Jun 17)
  • Apricot tree: main prune after harvest (May 20 – Jun 17)
  • Arborvitae: light trim after new growth (Apr 8 – May 6)
  • Asian pear: summer pruning: remove water sprouts (May 20 – Jun 17)
  • Basil: pinch and harvest (Apr 29 – May 6)
  • Black-eyed Susan: deadhead for more flowers (May 6–20)
  • Blackberry: summer tipping of new canes (erect types) (Apr 22 – May 20)
  • Bougainvillea: tip-prune after each bloom cycle (May 6–20)
  • Butterfly bush: deadhead through summer (May 20 – Jun 3)
  • Catmint: shear after first bloom (Apr 22 – May 6)
  • Cherry tree: prune after harvest (May 6 – Jun 3)
  • Climbing hydrangea: prune after flowering (Apr 29 – May 20)
  • Climbing rose: prune after the first flush of flowers (Apr 29 – May 20)
  • Coneflower: deadhead for more flowers (Apr 29 – May 13)
  • Daylily: deadhead for more flowers (Apr 29 – May 13)
  • Garden mum: pinch back for bushy plants (May 6–20)
  • Gardenia: prune right after flowering (May 6 – Jun 3)
  • Hazelnut / filbert: remove suckers (May 20 – Jun 3)
  • Kiwi vine: summer pruning (Apr 22 – May 6)
  • Lantana: midsummer shear (May 20 – Jun 3)
  • Lavender: main trim after flowering (May 13 – Jun 3)
  • Mint: midsummer cut-back (May 6–20)
  • Mulberry: trim after fruiting (optional) (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Oakleaf hydrangea: prune right after flowering (only if needed) (May 13 – Jun 10)
  • Pear (European): summer pruning: remove water sprouts (May 20 – Jun 17)
  • Peony: deadhead after flowering (Apr 15 – May 6)
  • Perennial salvia: shear after each flush (Apr 22 – May 6)
  • Persimmon: thin heavy crops (optional) (Apr 15 – May 6)
  • Plum tree: main prune in early summer (Apr 8 – May 6)
  • Pomegranate: remove suckers (Apr 22 – May 6)
  • Spirea: shear after first flush for rebloom (May 6–27)
  • Strawberry: renovate June-bearing beds after harvest (Apr 29 – May 20)
  • Tangerine / mandarin: thin fruit in heavy years (May 6 – Jun 3)
  • Thyme: trim after flowering (Apr 22 – May 6)
  • Tomato: remove suckers and lower leaves (Apr 29 – May 6)
  • Walnut tree: prune in summer (not late winter) (May 20 – Jun 17)
  • Wisteria: summer prune of long whips (May 6 – Jun 3)

Fertilizing in May

Spraying & disease prevention in May

  • Apple tree: codling moth and curculio protection (Apr 22 – May 6)
  • Arborvitae: bagworm check (Apr 15 – May 6)
  • Azalea: check for lace bugs (May 27 – Jun 10)
  • Boxwood: preventive spray in wet spring weather (blight-prone areas) (Apr 22 – May 6)
  • Climbing rose: preventive spray for black spot (Apr 29 – May 6)
  • Grapevine: black rot and mildew protection (May 6–13)
  • Hybrid tea rose: preventive spray for black spot (Apr 29 – May 6)
  • Peach / nectarine: brown rot protection before harvest (May 20 – Jun 10)
  • Tomato: preventive spray for early blight (May 6–13)

Other care in May

May Gardening Tips: What to Prune & Feed in May | Tend Weekly