March marks the official start of spring, bringing longer days, warming temperatures, and the perfect opportunity to get your garden ready for the growing season. Here’s a comprehensive list of key gardening tasks to tackle this month:
As the soil starts to warm up, it’s essential to improve its structure by incorporating compost or well-rotted manure. Adding organic matter not only enriches the soil with essential nutrients but also enhances its ability to retain moisture and improve drainage. Forking over beds to aerate the soil and breaking up any clumps that have formed over winter allows oxygen to reach plant roots and encourages beneficial microorganisms to thrive. If the weather is still wet, avoid working the soil too much to prevent compaction, as wet soil can become dense and difficult for roots to penetrate, leading to poor plant growth. Instead, wait for drier conditions before tilling or planting. Consider covering prepared beds with a layer of mulch to suppress weeds and protect the soil from heavy rain, which can wash away valuable nutrients. Additionally, testing soil pH levels and adjusting accordingly by adding lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower it will ensure optimal growing conditions for different plant varieties.
As the soil starts to warm up, it’s time to improve its structure by incorporating compost or well-rotted manure. Adding organic matter not only enriches the soil with essential nutrients but also enhances its ability to retain moisture and improve drainage.
Fork over beds to aerate the soil, breaking up any clumps that have formed over winter. This process allows oxygen to reach plant roots and encourages beneficial microorganisms to thrive.
If the weather is still wet, avoid working the soil too much to prevent compaction. Wet soil can become dense and difficult for roots to penetrate, leading to poor plant growth. Instead, wait for drier conditions before tilling or planting.
Consider covering prepared beds with a layer of mulch to suppress weeds and protect the soil from heavy rain, which can wash away valuable nutrients.
Test soil pH levels and adjust accordingly by adding lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower it, ensuring optimal growing conditions for different plant varieties.
March is also the time to start sowing seeds and planting. Hardy vegetables such as carrots, onions, parsnips, spinach, and broad beans can be sown directly outdoors, provided the soil is not too wet or frozen. Tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines should be sown indoors in seed trays or small pots to give them a strong start before transplanting later in the season. Seed potatoes should be chitted by placing them in a bright, frost-free location, allowing them to develop strong sprouts before planting. Onion sets and shallots can be planted directly into prepared beds, ensuring they have well-drained soil to prevent rot. For a splash of summer color later in the year, hardy annuals like poppies and cornflowers can be sown directly into garden borders. Additionally, perennials such as hostas and daylilies should be divided and replanted to rejuvenate them and improve flowering.
Start sowing hardy vegetables like carrots, onions, parsnips, spinach, and broad beans outdoors, ensuring the soil is not too wet or frozen.
Sow tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines indoors in seed trays or small pots to give them a strong start before transplanting later in the season.
Start chitting seed potatoes by placing them in a bright, frost-free location, allowing them to develop strong sprouts before planting.
Plant onion sets and shallots directly into prepared beds, ensuring they have well-drained soil to prevent rot.
Sow hardy annuals like poppies and cornflowers directly into garden borders for a splash of summer colour later in the year.
Divide and replant perennials such as hostas and daylilies to rejuvenate them and improve flowering.
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Av. Packet Contents : 500 seeds
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Average Contents : 1.5g, approx 1000 seeds
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Pruning and cutting back plants is another crucial task in March. Roses should be pruned before they start their spring growth, cutting back to an outward-facing bud to encourage healthy new shoots. Late-flowering clematis and summer-flowering shrubs like buddleia should also be trimmed to promote strong new growth and an abundance of flowers. Removing dead or damaged branches from trees and shrubs helps prevent disease and improves shape. Ornamental grasses and perennials should be cut back before new growth appears, ensuring they have a fresh start for the growing season. Additionally, hedges should be tidied up before birds begin nesting, but it is important to check carefully to avoid disturbing wildlife.
Prune roses before they start their spring growth, cutting back to an outward-facing bud to encourage healthy new shoots.
Trim late-flowering clematis and summer-flowering shrubs like buddleia to encourage strong new growth and an abundance of flowers.
Remove dead or damaged branches from trees and shrubs to prevent disease and improve shape.
Cut back ornamental grasses and perennials before new growth appears, ensuring they have a fresh start for the growing season.
Tidy up hedges before birds begin nesting, but check carefully to avoid disturbing wildlife.
With the warming weather, lawn care should also be addressed. The first cut of the year should be done on a dry day, using a high setting on the mower. Bare patches can be re-seeded by lightly raking the soil, adding grass seed, and gently firming it down. Applying a spring lawn feed will encourage strong root development and lush green growth. Raking up any remaining leaves and debris will improve air circulation and help prevent fungal diseases. Compacted areas should be aerated by spiking the lawn with a fork or aerator to improve drainage and oxygen flow, ensuring a healthier lawn throughout the season.
As the weather warms, mow the lawn on a dry day using a high setting on your mower for the first cut of the year.
Re-seed bare patches by lightly raking the soil, adding grass seed, and gently firming it down.
Apply a spring lawn feed to encourage strong root development and lush green growth.
Rake up any remaining leaves and debris to improve air circulation and prevent fungal diseases.
Aerate compacted areas by spiking the lawn with a fork or aerator to improve drainage and oxygen flow.
Greenhouse and indoor gardening also require attention. Tender vegetables and flowers should be sown indoors using heated propagators or sunny windowsills to ensure an early start. Overwintering plants should be checked for pests such as aphids and whitefly, and any dead leaves should be removed to prevent disease. Greenhouses should be ventilated on warmer days to prevent excessive humidity and fungal issues. Dahlias and begonias can be potted up to give them a head start before planting outside in late spring. Cleaning greenhouse glass is also essential to maximize light levels, helping young plants grow strong and healthy.
Start sowing tender vegetables and flowers indoors using heated propagators or sunny windowsills to ensure an early start.
Check overwintering plants for pests such as aphids and whitefly, removing any dead leaves to prevent disease.
Ventilate greenhouses on warmer days to prevent excessive humidity and fungal issues.
Begin potting up dahlias and begonias to give them a head start before planting outside in late spring.
Clean greenhouse glass to maximise light levels, helping young plants grow strong and healthy.
Sustainable gardening and wildlife care should not be overlooked. Garden birds should continue to be fed as natural food sources are still scarce, with a mix of seeds, nuts, and suet provided to support different species. Nesting boxes should be set up as birds begin to look for safe spaces to raise their young. Creating insect-friendly habitats by leaving a pile of logs or stones in a sheltered area will provide shelter for beneficial insects like ladybirds and bees. Beds should be mulched with organic matter to suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and improve soil health while also protecting soil organisms. Leaving a small patch of wild garden or untrimmed plants will provide shelter for overwintering insects and other wildlife, promoting biodiversity in the garden.
Continue feeding garden birds as natural food sources are still scarce, offering a mix of seeds, nuts, and suet to support different species.
Set up nesting boxes for birds as they begin to look for safe spaces to raise their young.
Create insect-friendly habitats by leaving a pile of logs or stones in a sheltered area, providing shelter for beneficial insects like ladybirds and bees.
Mulch beds with organic matter to suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and improve soil health while also protecting soil organisms.
Leave a small patch of wild garden or untrimmed plants to provide shelter for overwintering insects and other wildlife.
General maintenance and planning will help keep the garden in top shape. Garden tools should be cleaned and sharpened to prepare for the busy growing season, ensuring they are in good condition for pruning and planting. Organizing seed packets and planning vegetable beds for optimal crop rotation will reduce the risk of soil-borne pests and diseases. Garden structures such as trellises, fences, and raised beds should be checked for any damage that needs repair before plant growth accelerates. Summer-flowering bulbs such as lilies and gladioli should be ordered to ensure a vibrant summer display. Setting up rainwater collection systems, such as water butts, will help conserve water for drier months ahead. Pest control strategies should also be planned, considering organic options such as companion planting and biological controls.
Clean and sharpen garden tools to prepare for the busy growing season, ensuring they are in good condition for pruning and planting.
Organise seed packets and plan out your vegetable beds for optimal crop rotation, reducing the risk of soil-borne pests and diseases.
Check garden structures like trellises, fences, and raised beds for any damage that needs repair before plant growth accelerates.
Order summer-flowering bulbs such as lilies and gladioli to ensure a vibrant summer display.
Set up rainwater collection systems, such as water butts, to conserve water for drier months ahead.
Start planning pest control strategies, considering organic options such as companion planting and biological controls.
March is a busy but exciting month in the garden, setting the stage for a productive and beautiful growing season. By tackling these essential jobs now, you’ll ensure your garden thrives in the months ahead. Happy gardening!
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Average Packet Contents : 250 seeds
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