Understanding the weather in May

14:05:20 6th May 2010

Garden and greenhouse enthusiasts have been given some advice on how the weather during May can affect their plants.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) explained that this can be one of the driest months of the year and that growers should take steps to avoid damage to their plants.

While drier soil is ideal for seed sowing, plants need more and more water to aid their development.

The increasing strength and hours of sunshine should also help plants grow rapidly, with Scotland and Wales often having their sunniest period of the year around now.

Southern England can expect the most sunshine with around 200 hours throughout the month.

Temperatures can be a little unpredictable and rapid changes are not beneficial to plants, the RHS explained.

Warmer weather results in soft growth and makes them vulnerable to scorch when cold weather or drying winds return.

However, the winds are usually much calmer in May, apart from the odd thunderstorm, which can also bring damaging hail.

The RHS is soon set to host its Chelsea Flower Show, which attracts attention from all over the world.