This Easy May Gardening Job is Often Overlooked – And It'll Make Your Summer Blooms Look Better than Ever
A gardening expert reveals why it's important to give your soil some love this month
There's so much to get done in the garden in May, so it's easy to neglect the smaller tasks that actually make a big difference later on. When I asked a pro what's the number one gardening job everyone forgets to do in May, they said replenish garden soil – an error that can sabotage your summer blooms.
This goes for boosting soil health in borders, pots, and raised beds alike. After a year of growing plants, battling winter, and now getting ready for another productive season ahead, your soil is likely tired and nutrient deficient. Quickly replenishing it with organic matter and amendments specific to your plants' needs is the best way to set your garden up for a successful season.
Article continues belowWhy Replenish Your Soil in May?
'Whether you’re growing in containers, raised beds, or borders, taking the time to clean, refresh, and prepare your growing space gives plants the strongest start,' says Donna Letier, plant expert and CEO of Gardenuity.
'By May, temperatures are warming and growth is accelerating. But, tired and compacted soil with depleted nutrients can limit growth before the season even begins,' she adds.
Of course amidst the excitement of getting plants in the ground and sowing seeds outdoors, it's easy to see why this is the gardening job everyone forgets to do in May. But, as Donna notes, without some careful consideration for what's happening beneath surface level, your efforts may not be so successful.
Over time, essential plant nutrients available in garden soil and compost deplete. This can make it harder for plants to settle in well or for seeds to germinate.
Likewise, overly wet conditions from winter can cause soil compaction, restricting plant roots and reducing their ability to take up water and nutrients, as well as reducing drainage which can rot roots.
'Preparing your space now helps improve drainage, nutrient availability, airflow, and root health, setting your garden up for a stronger season,' Donna explains.
Donna Letier is the CEO and co-founder of Gardenuity, a company merging gardening with the wellness sector through personalized container gardens and gardening experiences.
How to Replenish Your Soil in May
There are a few different ways to replenish your garden soil in May, depending on what's needed.
Our guides to replenish container soil before summer and how to make raised bed soil last has more insight to these specific areas of the garden.
1. Test Your Soil
The first place to start is testing your soil. This will allow you to gain more insight to the health of your soil, its structure, the nutrients available, and more.
It can even help you identify your garden's soil type if you aren't sure, so you know which plants will thrive there.
I recommend this Amazon soil test kit which gets sent off to a lab and provides details around nutrients, pH level, and more.
2. Loosen Compacted Soil
Before taking steps to improve your garden soil's nutrients, you should first loosen compacted soil. The freeze-thaw cycles and wet conditions of winter break down structure and reduce air pockets, creating denser soil that isn't ideal for plant growth.
'Clear out old roots and plant debris while loosening compacted soil,' says Donna.
There are a few ways to do this, but I find it's easiest to use a hand garden fork (like this one from Burpee), especially in containers and raised beds. For larger areas, you may want to use an aerator tool (like this from Lowe's).
Gently break up the soil, improving airflow, drainage, and overall structure. This will make your soil amendments to be more effective, as they'll integrate more easily and plant roots will have better access to them.
3. Put Down Compost
Putting down a layer of compost provides an organic source for nutrients, replenishing those that have depleted.
It also boosts microbial activity in your soil and improves moisture retention and drainage.
You can either use homemade compost or purchase a nutrient-rich compost, like this Miracle Gro compost from Walmart.
Apply a generous layer around the base of your plants, especially where soil volume has depleted over the last year. You should gently work it into the top layer of your soil.
'For containers, refresh the soil by mixing in new growing medium,' Donna advises. 'Container soil works hard and loses structure and nutrients over time,' she adds.
This potting mix from Lowe's is a good choice for refreshing your container garden.
4. Add Soil Amendments
Optionally, you can use soil amendments to cater to your plant's needs.
For example, you can make your soil more acidic or more alkaline with this pH up and down kit from Amazon.
Mulch can also be used as a soil amendment, improving soil structure and moisture retention. You can opt for something like pine straw mulch (from Amazon) for a more acidic option, for example. Leaf mold is another option to effectively improving water retention.
'Mulch helps regulate soil temperature and retain moisture as temperatures rise,' Donna adds.
Biochar is another soil amendment which boosts microbial health while sequestering carbon. Just like adding compost, you can work biochar (like this Wakefield one on Amazon) into the top layer of your soil.
You may also consider applying an organic slow release fertilizer. These are designed to provide a gradual supply of nutrients over many weeks at a time. They typically come in granular form, like this organic granular rose food from Amazon.
What to Shop
These bypass pruning shears are ideal for essential pruning tasks. They cut up to 1" in diameter.
This beautiful canvas garden apron has multiple pockets to carry your tools. It has a neck and waist tie for a comfortable fit.
These long-sleeved gardening gloves have a gorgeous floral pattern. They protect hands and arms when tending to the garden.
You can also grow plants that improve soil quality to help give your garden a boost this spring. For example, red clover (which you can grow with these red clover seeds from Amazon) aids nitrogen fixation.
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