Top 10 Gardening Tasks for May Bank Holiday Weekend 2025
A Perfect Time for Late Spring Garden Care
Weather Overview
This bank holiday weekend (24th-26th May) marks a shift from the recent warm, dry spell to more typical British weather. Expect mixed conditions with sunny spells alternating with showers and occasional heavier rain. Temperatures will be cooler than recent weeks, reaching 20-23°C in the south but feeling fresher. The changeable weather actually provides excellent gardening opportunities - just be prepared to work between the showers!
🌱 1. Plant Out Tender Vegetables and Herbs
Best time: Saturday morning or dry spells
With the risk of frost now minimal, this is the perfect weekend to plant out your tender crops that have been waiting indoors. Plant tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, courgettes, and French beans in their final positions. The recent warm weather has prepared the soil perfectly, and the upcoming cooler, wetter conditions will help them establish without transplant shock.
🌧️ 2. Collect and Store Rainwater
Ongoing task throughout the weekend
With significant rainfall expected, make sure all water butts, containers, and rain collection systems are clean and ready. This weekend's showers will provide valuable free water for the drier periods ahead. Set up additional containers if needed - your garden will thank you later in the summer.
🌿 3. Divide and Transplant Spring Perennials
Best time: When soil is moist but not waterlogged
Take advantage of the moist soil conditions to divide overcrowded clumps of spring-flowering perennials like primulas, pulmonarias, and early-flowering clematis. The combination of warm soil and regular moisture will give divisions the best chance to establish quickly.
🌻 4. Direct Sow Heat-Loving Annuals
Best time: Protected periods between showers
Sow sunflowers, nasturtiums, calendula, and cosmos directly where they're to flower. The soil is beautifully warm from recent sunny weather, and the upcoming rain will provide perfect germination conditions. Cover with cloches or fleece if heavy rain is forecast immediately after sowing.
🏡 5. Mulch Beds and Borders
Excellent weekend-long activity
With moist soil conditions, this is ideal mulching weather. Apply a 5-7cm layer of organic matter around established plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. The current soil moisture means mulch will sit perfectly without creating a barrier to water penetration.
🌹 6. Feed and Deadhead Roses
Perfect task for showery conditions
Give roses their second feed of the season with a balanced fertilizer, and remove spent blooms to encourage more flowers. The combination of nutrients and regular moisture will promote vigorous growth and abundant summer blooms. Work during dry spells to avoid spreading fungal diseases.
🦆 7. Pest and Disease Patrol
Essential after recent warm weather
The recent warm, dry conditions followed by moisture create perfect conditions for pests and diseases. Check for aphids on new growth, inspect roses for black spot, and look for slug and snail damage. Set up beer traps and apply organic treatments as needed.
🥕 8. Successional Sowing of Crops
Quick task between showers
Sow another row of lettuce, radishes, spring onions, and carrots for continuous harvests. The changeable weather provides ideal germination conditions. Also sow late crops like purple sprouting broccoli and winter cabbages for next year's harvest.
🌿 9. Harvest and Preserve Herbs
Best done during dry periods
Many herbs are at their peak right now. Harvest oregano, thyme, rosemary, and sage for drying, and pick fresh herbs like basil and parsley. The recent sunny weather has concentrated their essential oils perfectly. Preserve excess herbs by freezing in ice cubes with olive oil.
🍓 10. Protect and Support Fruit Crops
Weekend project between weather fronts
Check strawberry plants and raise fruits off the ground with straw or matting to prevent slug damage and soil splash. Support heavy branches on fruit trees, and continue thinning overcrowded fruit if you haven't already. Net soft fruits against birds if they're starting to ripen.
💡 Weekend Gardening Tips
Weather Strategy: Keep one eye on the sky and be flexible with your timing. Start outdoor tasks early in the day during any clear spells, and save greenhouse or covered work for when rain arrives.
Soil Care: The transition from dry to wet conditions is perfect for soil improvement work. Add compost to beds and avoid working on heavy clay soils when they're waterlogged.
Plant Health: The changing weather can stress plants, so ensure good air circulation around susceptible plants and avoid overhead watering during humid conditions.
Safety First: Wet surfaces can be slippery, so take extra care on paths, steps, and when using ladders for tree work.
Make the most of this extended bank holiday weekend - the combination of warm soil and refreshing moisture makes it one of the best gardening weekends of the year!