A way with weeds

With warmer weather arriving and the soil still moist, May provides perfect conditions for weeds. Monty shares his organic methods for keeping them at bay

May is the unfurling of butterflies' wings and the breaking of the clouds to reveal an infinite landscape - it is even as joyous as the first smile of recognition on a baby's face. It is the point in the year when light and growth soar to reveal not just the trembling beauty of the world around you but also unlimited promise ahead. So every precious May moment has to be treasured and honoured.

Mind you, May is never easy. It gives with overflowing generosity but it can ask a lot of gardeners too. The weather is often fickle. It can be shockingly cold and deceptively warm - sometimes on consecutive days. Weeds are growing faster than anything else and at times it feels as though the garden is straining to run away and escape from even the most conscientious gardener.

All of a sudden there are weeds where soil lay clear and blissfully dormant all winter, weeds in among the perennials, shrubs and hedges, weeds in the veg patch and the herb garden, and weeds jostling up against the weeds that were left unweeded all winter. Leave those weeds at this time of year and you will have them all summer long.

Going underground