With plants gradually coming to life, March is a busy month for the gardener.
The warmer weather and lighter evenings mark the start of greater activity in the garden.
Now is the time to get back outdoors and do the jobs that couldn’t be tackled during the winter months.
Fertilise
- Build up the nutrients in the soil that have been lost from rain or snow. Applying a thick layer of mulch such as bark, well-rotted horse or farm yard manure or garden compost should be sufficient and has the added advantage of suppressing any weeds
- Flowering annuals and vegetables may require some one-off soil boosters such as fish blood and bone plus a liquid fertiliser every few weeks.
Plant
- Spring annuals can be raised from seeds sown in position, such as sweet peas or cornflowers, or as seedlings ready to go in the ground like pansies, violas and antirrhinum
- Summer flowering bulbs like dahlias, gladioli and lilies can be planted among your shrubs and herbaceous borders
- Evergreen and deciduous shrubs can be planted as well
- Transplant or divide perennials that have become too big, ensuring the roots don’t dry out, as they like this
- Carrots, early peas, broad beans, parsnips and salad varieties can also be planted this month
- If you haven’t got any tomatoes sown, now is a good time to get started
- Tub and hanging basket plants that are hardy such as primroses and polyanthus can now be planted and older ones re-potted.
Need more advice?
Pop into your nearest GCA member garden centre for more help and to also get all your supplies. Use our online ‘find a garden centre’ tool here.