The Lazy Way to Plant in May
Spring is in full swing, and May is the perfect time to get your garden growing — but who says you have to break your back doing it? If the thought of tilling, weeding, and hauling bags of soil exhausts you before you even start, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are lazy, low-effort ways to plant in May and still enjoy a thriving garden. With a bit of smart planning, you can let nature (and a few modern shortcuts) do most of the work for you.
1. Choose the Right Plants
The key to lazy gardening is working with nature, not against it. Start by selecting plants that thrive in your local climate. Native plants or drought-tolerant varieties like lavender, yarrow, and echinacea usually require less water and maintenance. For vegetables, consider hardy staples like tomatoes, bush beans, cucumbers, and zucchini — they’re all fast-growing and relatively self-sufficient when started in May.
2. Use No-Dig Gardening
The no-dig or no-till method is a dream for the lazy gardener. Instead of digging up soil and disturbing the ecosystem, simply lay down cardboard or thick newspaper directly over your garden bed or lawn. Then add a layer of compost or rich topsoil, followed by mulch. This smothers weeds, feeds the soil, and creates a perfect environment for planting. Just poke a hole through the layers and plant directly into the soil underneath.
3. Start with Seedlings
While sowing seeds can be cost-effective, it also requires patience, attention, and protection from pests. For a quicker and easier route, buy young starter plants from a nursery or farmers market. They’re already several weeks ahead in growth, and you won’t have to fuss with thinning, transplanting, or constant watering.
4. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
Mulch is your best friend. A generous layer of mulch (like straw, shredded leaves, or bark) around your plants suppresses weeds, locks in moisture, and stabilizes soil temperature. That means less watering, less weeding, and happier plants. It’s the lazy gardener’s ultimate hack for low-maintenance success.
5. Let Containers Do the Work
Container gardening is an easy, flexible way to grow food and flowers with minimal effort. You don’t need a big yard — just some pots, good soil, and sunshine. Choose large containers so you don’t need to water as often, and use slow-release fertilizer to keep things even simpler. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and even small varieties of squash or potatoes grow well in pots.
6. Water Wisely
Lazy doesn’t mean neglectful. Set up a simple drip irrigation system or use soaker hoses with timers. This way, you don’t have to drag hoses around or remember to water. Your plants will get just the right amount of moisture at the right time, and you can sit back and sip lemonade while your garden takes care of itself.
Final Thought
Gardening doesn’t have to be an all-day workout. With the lazy way to plant in May, you can enjoy a lush, productive garden without the sweat and sore muscles. Work smarter, not harder — and let the plants do the growing while you relax.
