March marks the start of the active gardening season and the lengthening amount of daylight is equalled by a lengthening to do list! March can be a month of contrasts with warm spring days, and the threat of frost and snow. The weather does not stop the inevitable march of the spring bulbs as they bring colour and life into the garden; daffodils, fritillaries and late crocus are the stars of the show…and of course, my favourite hellebores are continuing to bring colour during the transition from winter to spring.
Now is time to get the garden ready for the growing season.
- March is a good time to plan ahead, spot any potential problems or things you’d like to change.
- Pick off any developing seedheads on daffodils and other spring bulbs, but leave the foliage to die back naturally.
- Weed and tidy your borders, then mulch generously with garden compost
- Lift and divide herbaceous plants on a dry day. Don’t forget to water them in.
- Go around the garden checking for frost damage. Cut back any affected stems.
- Re-pot pot-bound plants using fresh compost. Check for pests whilst doing so.
- Finish pruning roses early in the month.
- Cut dogwoods, willows and cotinus right down to the base to promote vigorous new growth.
- Sow hardy annuals outdoors, such as poppies and nasturtiums.
- Plant faded forced bulbs out in the garden for blooms next year.
- Plant summer flowering bulbs in pots and borders, such as lillies, crocosmia and freesias.
- Feed ericaceous shrubs, such as azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons with ericaceous fertiliser.
- Keep an eye out for new spring shoots and protect from slugs.
- Plant shallots, onions sets and early potatoes.
- Mow the lawn if and when it is dry enough – which may be some time after the wet winter we have endured!
- Harvest forced rhubarb.
Lydia x
