25 April 2025
Planting tips and seasonal favourites to bring colour, life and joy to your outdoor space
There’s something truly magical about May in the garden. The days are longer, the sun is warmer, and the promise of summer is just around the corner. It’s the perfect time to dig in and get planting—and whether you're working with a generous lawn or a few pots on the patio, there’s plenty you can do to make your garden thrive.
Here’s our round-up of what to plant this May to create a vibrant, welcoming space you’ll love all season long.
Cornflowers
A cottage garden favourite, cornflowers are loved for their vivid blue blooms and delicate texture. These hardy annuals enjoy full sun and well-drained soil and are brilliant for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Bishop’s Flower (Ammi Majus)
Elegant and airy, Bishop’s Flower adds soft white lacy blooms to any border. It thrives in full sun and complements bolder colours beautifully. Perfect for natural-style gardens and cutting for indoor arrangements.
Sunflowers
A feel-good favourite, sunflowers bring instant cheer. Plant in a warm, sunny location and watch them grow tall and proud. Great fun for children to grow and ideal for creating a sunny summer focal point.
Cherry Trees
Whether you choose ornamental or fruiting varieties, cherry trees deliver stunning spring blossom and beautiful structure. Plant in sunny, sheltered spots and enjoy their charm year after year.
Hawthorn Trees
A true British native, hawthorn offers seasonal interest from spring flowers to autumn berries. It’s hardy, low maintenance, and a wonderful way to support local wildlife.
Crab Apple Trees
Perfect for smaller gardens, crab apples offer showy spring blooms and colourful fruit later in the year. They like full sun and well-drained soil and work beautifully as a focal point tree.
Bamboo
Add instant height and structure with bamboo. Choose clump-forming varieties to avoid spread, and place in sunny or part-shaded areas. Ideal for screening and adding texture to modern gardens.
Japanese Azaleas
Compact and bursting with colour, Japanese azaleas love acidic soil and dappled shade. They offer a bold spring display and keep their glossy green leaves all year round.
Lavender
Fragrant, hardy, and always a favourite, lavender thrives in sunny spots with well-drained soil. It’s perfect for pathways and patio pots and loved by bees and butterflies.
Rosemary
Evergreen and wonderfully aromatic, rosemary enjoys full sun and dry soil. Great in borders or pots near the kitchen door—ideal for adding to roasts and fresh focaccia.
Thyme
This low-growing herb is both beautiful and practical. It loves full sun and is drought tolerant once established. Scatter it in rockeries or among paving for a rustic Mediterranean feel.
Sage
Sage’s soft, textured leaves and earthy scent make it a lovely addition to herb gardens. It likes a sunny spot and well-drained soil, and its purple flowers in summer are great for bees.
Strawberries
Sweet, juicy, and perfect for pots or hanging baskets. Strawberries love full sun and regular watering. With the right care, they’ll keep producing well into summer.
Gooseberries
These hardy bushes are easy to grow and produce tart, tangy berries perfect for pies and jams. They prefer cooler climates and benefit from a bit of shade in the afternoon sun.
Citrus Trees
With their glossy leaves and zesty scent, lemon or orange trees bring a touch of the Med to your garden. Best grown in pots in the UK so they can be moved indoors over winter.
Water Lilies
Floating leaves and jewel-toned flowers make water lilies the stars of any pond. They love still water and sunshine and help reduce algae by shading the pond.
Water Crowfoot
Perfect for streams or still water, this pretty native plant has white flowers and floating leaves. It’s a great oxygenator and creates a healthy ecosystem for pond life.
Frogbit
Similar to a tiny water lily, frogbit has small round leaves and delicate white flowers. It provides great cover for frogs and helps keep pond water clean and clear.
While gardens are wonderful places for people and pets alike, some plants can be harmful to our four-legged friends. Avoid planting lilies, daffodils, foxglove, and yew if you have cats or dogs. Always double-check before planting something new—your local garden centre or vet can help with advice.
Gardening isn’t just about pretty flowers and fresh produce—it’s also a powerful form of therapy. For people living with ADHD or autism, gardening can offer calm, routine, and sensory satisfaction in a safe, engaging way. The physical activity of digging and planting, the visual beauty of colours and textures, and the scent of herbs like lavender and rosemary can all offer soothing benefits. Plus, the structured routines of watering, weeding and harvesting can bring a wonderful sense of purpose and achievement.
Creating a garden that’s tailored to sensory needs—whether it’s with soft grasses, calming colours, or quiet corners—can help make outdoor spaces more inclusive and joyful for everyone.
Whether you're planting your first sunflower or establishing a blossoming tree that will grow for decades to come, May is the perfect time to get outside and embrace the season. At Walton Homes, we believe every home should have a space to bloom—and we hope this guide inspires you to get planting.
Here’s to gardens that grow with you.
