Gardening jobs to tackle in March
March marks the true beginning of the gardening year in the UK. As daylight stretches and temperatures rise, the garden begins to wake from its winter rest. It’s the perfect time to get ahead with key tasks that set the tone for a successful growing season.
Prepare beds and borders
Start by clearing away the last of the winter debris, fallen leaves and any tired annuals still lingering. Lightly fork over borders, add a generous layer of garden compost and remove emerging weeds before they get established. This early prep gives your soil a healthy boost just in time for spring planting.
You could also use the no dig method, then check out Charles Dowding’s blog here. Also try to leave some areas of your garden untidy to help provide shelter and food for wildlife.
Prune early flowering shrubs and roses
Once early flowering shrubs like Forsythia have bloomed, give them a tidy prune to encourage fresh growth. It’s also a great time to prune roses – removing dead, damaged and crossing stems helps shape the plant and improve flowering later in the season.
Start sowing seeds
March is ideal for sowing hardy annuals such as sweet peas, calendula and cornflowers. You can also begin sowing vegetables like carrots, parsnips, lettuce and broad beans directly outdoors if the soil isn’t too waterlogged or we get a sudden cold snap.
Tender crops – tomatoes, peppers and aubergines – should be started indoors or in a heated propagator. You must select a peat-free seed sowing compost to use. Multi-purpose compost doesn’t deliver the results you need.
Recycle any plastic trays, labels and pots from last year. Make sure you wash them thoroughly with warm soapy water, using a mild washing up liquid, rinse them well and dry them off fully before using them. This should hopefully prevent any spread of diseases and give your seedlings a good start.
Divide perennials
Clump-forming perennials like hostas, asters and hardy geraniums can be divided now. This not only rejuvenates the plants but also gives you new ones to spread around the garden.
Clean and maintain tools
Before things get too busy, take time to sharpen your secateurs, oil tools and check your lawnmower. A bit of maintenance now saves time and potential frustration later.
Look after the lawn
As growth restarts, give the lawn a light rake, repair bare patches and apply a spring feed if needed.
With a little effort in March, your garden will be primed for a vibrant and productive year.
Get more free advice
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