May is officially here—and your garden knows it.
Things are growing fast, the weather is warming up, and everything outside is starting to feel a little more alive. This is the month where your spring effort starts turning into real payoff!
So consider this your friendly May garden game plan. All the right moves to keep your space looking lush, healthy, and ready for spring and summer.
1. Give Your Beds a Little “Reset Moment”
Your garden handles a lot through the changing of the seasons— chilly winter weather, spring rain, early planting, and more.
Now’s the perfect time to freshen things up! Add a layer of Calloway’s Premium Mulch to instantly clean up your flowerbeds, lock in moisture, and help regulate soil temperature, and reduce weeds.
To give all new plants the best start, mix in Calloway’s Premium Soil for fresh plantings, to give your plants a nutrient-rich base. May is also a great time to feed your plants! Think of it as fresh nutrition for everything that’s about to take off.
2. Set the Framework
Trees and shrubs are the quiet architects of your landscape, bringing structure, shade, and year-round presence to your garden.
While annuals steal the spotlight for a season, these long-term plantings create the bones that everything else builds on, guiding sightlines, anchoring beds, and adding depth through layers of height and texture.
With the mild weather and rainfall we’ve had this spring, May is still a wonderful time to plant trees and shrubs. Take time to place them thoughtfully, giving each plant room to reach its full potential, and you’ll create a garden that not only looks good now, but grows more beautiful each year.
3. Time to Plant the Seasonal Blooms (They’re Ready for Their Moment)
Early spring flowers are blooming … but now it’s time to start adding the show stopping spring to summer performers.
May is an ideal time to start planting warmer weather-loving color that thrive when the Texas sun shows up in full force:
These are the “don’t worry about me, I love it here” kind of plants. Low drama, high color, big impact!
To keep them performing all season long, feed them with Calloway’s Premium Flower Food—a simple step that makes a big difference in blooms and overall plant health.
4. A Little Trim Goes a Long Way
If things are starting to look a bit wild or stretched out, don’t panic—this is normal.
A quick prune or deadhead session can completely change how your plants grow. You’re basically telling them, “Hey, let’s grow back fuller and better.” Think of this like a good pep-talk!
5. Water Smarter, Not Harder
Sunny, warm days are right around the corner and your garden is definitely going to notice.
Early morning watering is your best friend this month. It helps plants absorb what they need instead of losing it to the sun.
For containers and hanging baskets especially, make sure they’re getting consistent moisture!
Investing in high-quality watering tools from DRAMM®, especially those with an easy on-and-off nozzle, turns everyday watering into a simple & enjoyable activity.
6. Keep an Eye Out
Warm weather doesn’t just wake up your plants—it wakes up pests too.
Take a quick walk through your garden once a week. Look under leaves, check new growth, and catch anything early. It’s way easier to fix a small issue than a full-blown takeover.
And if pests do show up, you’ve got options beyond sprays—Calloway’s and Cornelius also carry beneficial insects like ladybugs, praying mantises and lacewings to naturally help keep your garden in balance. It’s an easy, eco-friendly way to let nature do some of the work for you.
7. Design Inspiration for Spring & Summer: Make It Intentional ✨
May is also a great time to step back and style your space, not just maintain it.
Think of your garden like an outdoor room—layering matters.
Try mixing:
- Tall statement plants in the back or center
- Medium color for fullness and flow
- Low-growing spillers to soften edges
Want an easy refresh? Stick to a color story (like all pinks + purples, or bold tropical tones) so everything feels cohesive instead of chaotic.
Add a pop with a statement container filled using Calloway’s Premium Container Potting Soil, or group containers in odd numbers for that “effortlessly designed” look.
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have an extensive selection of imported pottery! From bold, colorful ceramics, to classic terra cotta and modern lightweight plastic, there is a container for your space and style!
Small changes make your whole space feel more intentional—and a lot more put together.
Keep Growing!
May is that in-between month where everything feels like it’s waking up and speeding up at the same time.
Stay on top of the basics, enjoy the growth you’re seeing, and don’t be afraid to refresh and add new things as you go. Your garden is about to hit its peak season—and you’re right on time for it.
Need help bringing it all to life?
Stop by Calloway’s or Cornelius and let our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals help you choose the right plants, products, and design ideas for your space. Whether you’re refreshing beds, building out containers, or just not sure where to start, we’re here to make it easy (and a lot more fun).
We’ll help you grow it right! 🌿
What do I need to do in my Texas garden in May?
Not at all! May is actually a great time to plant vibrant annuals, trees, and shrubs. Just be mindful of adjusting your watering schedule with the change in temerature!
Most plants do best with deep watering 2–3 times per week, but containers and hanging baskets may need daily watering as it gets warmer.
Consider sunlight, available space, soil conditions, and your goals—whether that’s shade, privacy, or ornamental beauty. Our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals can help match you with the perfect fit.
Go for heat-tolerant favorites like lantana, vinca, pentas, zinnias, tropical hibiscus, and bougainvillea—they thrive in the Texas sun.
Right now! Adding mulch in May helps retain moisture, regulates soil temperature, and prevents weeds.
Regular feeding with a quality flower food, consistent watering, and deadheading spent blooms will keep plants producing more flowers.
Common May pests include aphids, spider mites, and caterpillars. Check under leaves and around new growth weekly to catch issues early.
Yes—light pruning and deadheading are perfect right now. Just avoid heavy pruning on spring-flowering shrubs that have already bloomed.
Add fresh mulch, swap in warm weather-loving color, and update a few containers with a cohesive color palette—it makes a big impact fast.
Marketing leader with 10+ years of experience, blending creativity with deep, hands-on knowledge of the horticulture industry. Energized by plants, sports, good food, and great style.