In brief: After the Ice Saints in mid-May, the risk of frost has passed in most parts of Germany. You can plant frost-sensitive crops such as tomatoes, zucchini, beans and basil outdoors. Start by transplanting seedlings you’ve grown indoors and sowing warm-season vegetables directly in the garden. It’s also a good time to care for your lawn and mulch your beds.
Garden Calendar: What to Do After the Last Frost?
By mid-May, the risk of overnight frost in Germany drops significantly. The Ice Saints—a traditional period in mid-May—mark the start of the outdoor planting season. Use this time to get your garden ready for summer.
Why does the last frost date matter to gardeners?
The Ice Saints are linked to a weather pattern in which cold air can return in spring. For gardeners, this tradition offers a useful guide for planning.
Frost-sensitive plants can die when temperatures fall below freezing. Many vegetables and ornamental plants from warmer regions are vulnerable, so planting them outdoors too early can be risky.
The old gardening rule about the Ice Saints has some basis in the statistics. Although the frost-free period has lengthened over the last few decades, pockets of cold air can still pose a risk in some areas.
You don’t have to treat the Ice Saints as a hard-and-fast rule. In mild regions or sheltered spots, you may be able to start earlier. Always check your local forecast.
How do you prepare garden beds for planting?
Loosen the soil thoroughly with a garden fork. Remove weeds and stones. If needed, work in compost or an organic fertilizer. This improves the soil structure and adds nutrients for your plants.
The soil should feel slightly warm to the touch and crumble easily. Working soil that’s too wet can compact it. Wait a day or two after heavy rain.
Expert tip
Cover prepared beds with black plastic sheeting or garden fleece a week before planting. The soil will warm up faster underneath, helping young plants get established.
Which plants can you put outdoors now?
After the Ice Saints, the main planting season begins for frost-sensitive varieties, including many vegetables from Mediterranean and tropical regions.
Planting vegetables and herbs
Transplant tomato, pepper, chili, eggplant and cucumber seedlings that you’ve grown indoors or bought. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot. Install supports for beans or tomatoes when you plant them.
Transplant young pumpkin, zucchini and pickling cucumber plants. Sow dwarf beans, pole beans, sweet corn, beets (for a fall harvest) and herbs such as basil, marjoram and borage directly in the garden bed.
Image: (Young tomato and pepper plants are planted in the prepared bed)
Ornamental plants and summer flowers
Plant dahlia tubers, gladiolus bulbs and canna rhizomes. Transplant flowers you’ve started indoors, such as marigolds, zinnias, snapdragons and petunias. Begonias and fuchsias are also frost-sensitive and can now be moved outdoors.
Heat-loving plants such as tomatoes benefit from a layer of straw or grass clippings. Mulch helps keep the soil warm, suppresses weeds and reduces evaporation. Apply it only after the soil has warmed up.
How should you care for your lawn in May?
Lawns grow quickly in May. Mow regularly, but don’t cut the grass too short. A cutting height of four to five centimeters is ideal. It encourages dense growth and helps suppress weeds.
Important note
Only dethatch when the lawn is dry and there’s a thick layer of thatch. Dethatching too aggressively or too often can damage the grass. Reseed bare spots right away and keep them moist.
May is a good time to fertilize. Use a slow-release lawn fertilizer. Lime may help if your soil is acidic. Browse our garden tools for lawn care.
How can you protect plants from a late frost?
Cold air can return in some areas even after the Ice Saints. Be prepared, especially if your garden is in a low-lying spot or at a higher elevation.
Garden fleece offers excellent protection. It lets light and water through while protecting plants from a few degrees of frost. Cover them the evening before a frosty night.
For individual seedlings, use upside-down pots, buckets or special covers. For larger areas or sensitive container plants, a
is a practical option. It’s clear and durable.
Additional tip
Secure tarps and fleece firmly to the ground.
or , sturdy plastic tarp clips will hold the cover in place, even in windy conditions. This helps protect your plants and keeps the cover from blowing away.
Remove the cover the next morning as soon as temperatures rise. This prevents heat from building up and helps prevent fungal diseases.
What other gardening tasks should you do in May?
Weed regularly before weeds go to seed. Mulch beds and the soil around trees with grass clippings, straw or bark mulch. Mulching reduces watering and helps suppress weeds.
Check plants for pests such as aphids. Encourage beneficial insects by growing a variety of plants. Now is a good time to add supports for tall perennials such as delphiniums and peonies.
Set out your patio furniture and clean it. To help it last longer, protect it during extended rainy periods or when it’s not in use. A patio furniture cover is a smart choice.
Image: (A lush, freshly planted vegetable bed in May with young plants and a layer of mulch)
Plan your garden irrigation system. Lay hoses or install a drip irrigation system before summer’s dry spells begin. A durable garden hose is a good investment.
Compost prunings and weeds or use practical garden waste bags. This helps keep your garden tidy.
Conclusion: Make the most of this window of opportunity
The period after the Ice Saints is one of the busiest times of the gardening year. It lays the groundwork for summer harvests and a garden full of blooms. Work with the weather, not against it.
Start planting as soon as the risk of frost has passed in your area. Well-prepared soil and good timing are key to healthy growth. With the right garden tools and a little planning, you can take on every task.
Enjoy gardening in the warm early summer weather. The effort pays off with a fresh harvest and a garden in full bloom.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the exact dates of the Ice Saints?
- The Ice Saints are observed each year from 11 to 15 May. Each day is named after a saint: Mamertus (11 May), Pancras (12 May), Servatius (13 May), Boniface (14 May) and Cold Sophie (15 May). In Central Europe, these traditional dates mark the end of the late-frost season.
- Can frost still occur after the Ice Saints?
- Yes. In milder areas, such as wine-growing regions, the risk of frost often passes earlier. In higher elevations and low-lying areas where cold air settles, light frost can occur through the end of May. Check your local forecast, and protect tender young plants overnight with row cover or another covering.
- Which vegetables should I plant outdoors after the Ice Saints?
- Now is the time to transplant young tomato, pepper, cucumber, zucchini and eggplant plants that you started indoors or bought. You can also sow dwarf beans, pole beans, pumpkins, sweet corn and basil directly outdoors. These plants need warm soil and cannot tolerate frost.
- Should I dethatch my lawn after the Ice Saints?
- May is a good time to dethatch your lawn while it is actively growing. First, rake away old grass clippings and leaves. Dethatch only when the lawn is dry. Afterward, fertilize the lawn and reseed any bare spots. Apply lime beforehand if needed; learn more about lawn and garden lime in our product range.
- How can I protect plants during a late cold snap?
- Use row cover or frost-protection covers. You can also cover plants with overturned pots, buckets or cardboard boxes. Remove the covers in the morning so the plants get light and air. PRODUCT_138663 is ideal for quickly protecting larger areas.
You might also be interested in
- The Ice Saints: An important date for your garden in May
- Planting vegetables after the Ice Saints: How to get started
- May garden calendar: What to sow and how to care for your garden
- Gardening in April: Get the gardening season started
- June garden calendar: What to do in the garden this month
- Gardening throughout the year: The best time for every season