Gardening Jobs for May and June in the UK - With drought in mind
- Merlin Lawn Care
- May 8
- 3 min read
May and June are peak months in the garden. Flowers are blooming, veg plots are filling out, and wildlife is everywhere — but with the UK experiencing a particularly dry and drought-prone spring, it’s more important than ever to adapt how we garden. Here’s a list of timely, water-wise tasks to help your garden thrive through the early summer.
1. Watering Wisely 💦💧
Be Strategic
Water early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation.
Focus on roots, not leaves — a deep a few times a week is better than daily light watering.
Prioritise young plants, containers, and anything recently planted.
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
Apply a thick layer (5–7 cm) of organic mulch (like bark, compost, or straw) around plants.
This retains moisture, keeps roots cool, and suppresses weeds.
Harvest Rainwater
Use water butts if you’re lucky enough to get a shower or two — every drop helps.
Grey water (from baths or washing up) can be reused on ornamental plants, just avoid detergents with bleach.
2. Planting and Sowing 🪴🌱
Plant Drought-Resilient Varieties
Consider lavender, rosemary, salvia, euphorbia, sedum, and other sun-loving Mediterranean-style plants.
In the veg patch, courgettes, French beans, and squash can cope well once established, especially when mulched.
Direct Sow Outdoors
Sow lettuce, beetroot, chard, carrots, and dwarf beans, but water the seed drills well before sowing.
Thin seedlings early to reduce competition for moisture.
Harden Off and Plant Out
Move tomatoes, cucumbers, and other tender crops into their final positions, ideally with shade in the hottest part of the day.
Water them in thoroughly, and mulch around the base.
3. Deadheading and Pruning ✂🌺
Encourage Repeat Flowering
Deadhead regularly — roses, lupins, delphiniums, and annual bedding plants will keep blooming longer if you remove faded flowers.
Trim Spring-Flowering
Prune back forsythia, chaenomeles, and flowering currants after they finish blooming to shape and encourage healthy growth.
4. Support and Tie In Growth 🥀
Stake tall perennials like peonies and delphiniums before they flop.
Tie in climbers such as sweet peas, clematis, and runner beans as they grow.
Use soft ties or string to avoid damaging stems.
5. Keep on Top of Weeds 🌱🌱
Hoe on dry days — weeds will shrivel quickly in the sun.
Remove weeds before they seed, especially those competing for precious moisture.
Mulching (again!) can massively reduce the time you spend weeding.
6. Lawn Care in Dry Conditions ☀️
Let it grow a bit longer — raise the mower blades to help shade the soil and reduce stress.
Keep blades sharpened to avoid damaging grass – the torn ragged ends when cut with a blade in poor condition causes die back and will negatively affect grass growth.
Deep watering of established lawns — twice a week a thorough soaking using a sprinkler either early in the morning or late in the evening (to reduce evaporation and the risk of scorching) ensuring that the ground beneath is properly damp. This will help to prevent ‘browning off’ in drought conditions. As soon as rain returns this can be stopped.
Consider wildflower areas or drought-tolerant alternatives like creeping thyme or chamomile for long-term resilience.
7. Wildlife and Pollinator Support 🦔🐦⬛🪺🐝
Top up bird baths and bee-friendly water sources with shallow stones for safe drinking.
Plant nectar-rich flowers like foxgloves, alliums, achillea, and verbena bonariensis.
Avoid pesticides — especially in warm weather, they can be even more harmful to beneficial insects.
Final Thoughts 💬
Gardening in a dry spring doesn’t have to be a struggle — it’s a chance to work with nature, not against it. By choosing the right plants, mulching generously, and watering wisely, you can enjoy a beautiful, thriving garden while conserving precious resources.
How are you adapting your garden to cope with the dry weather? Share your tips in the comments!
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