As the days begin to lengthen and the first signs of spring emerge, March is a busy month for gardeners across the UK. While the weather can still be unpredictable, with frosty mornings and occasional showers, there is plenty to do in the garden to prepare for the growing season ahead.
Grab your gardening gloves and go! Here are some key tasks to focus on in the garden this month:
Prepare Beds and Borders
March is the perfect time to start preparing your garden beds for the growing season. Remove weeds, dig over the soil, and incorporate plenty of organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure. This will improve soil structure and provide essential nutrients for plants.
Pruning and Cutting Back
Prune roses before new growth becomes too established, cutting just above an outward-facing bud and trim back winter-flowering shrubs after they have finished blooming. You’ll also want to cut back perennials to make way for new growth and prune fruit tree, such as apples and pears, while they are still dormant.
Sowing and Planting
March is an ideal time to sow and plant many vegetables and flowers. Depending on the weather, you can start sowing indoors or directly outdoors:
Vegetables to sow: Carrots, lettuce, beetroot, spinach, onions, leeks, peas, and broad beans.
Flowers to sow: Sweet peas, marigolds, cosmos, and sunflowers.
Plant out: Early potatoes, onion sets, and garlic.
Lawn Care
With spring approaching, lawns begin to wake up from their winter dormancy. First, rake up any dead leaves and debris and aerate compacted areas to improve drainage. Apply a spring lawn feed to encourage healthy growth and if the weather is mild enough, mow the lawn on a high setting to tidy it up a bit post winter.
Greenhouse and Cold Frame Maintenance
Clean your greenhouse glass if you haven’t already to maximise light levels for seedlings and young plants. You’ll also want to check for pests and diseases, treating as necessary. Then you can start sowing tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers in seed trays indoors or under cover.
Wildlife and Pest Management
Put up nest boxes for birds as they begin to look for places to raise their young and keep your bird feeders topped up with high-energy foods – we can definitely help you with that! Keep an eye out for emerging pests like slugs and aphids, using organic methods to manage them where possible.
General Maintenance
Finally…clean and sharpen all those garden tools if you’ve left them lying dormant during the winter months. March is also the perfect time to repair any fences, trellises, and raised beds before plants start growing! It’s also a good idea to check any water butts and irrigation systems to ensure they are working properly.
Are you following us on social yet? Don’t forget to sign up to our monthly newsletter and follow our socials for more news and offers.
Follow us on Instagram @hildreths.garden.centre and on Facebook @Hildreths Garden Centre