It’s March and we’re in reaching distance of spring!
We can get excited to finally see a bit of sunshine, spend more time outdoors and get stuck in the garden or allotment without getting numb fingers from the cold!
March marks the beginning of the spring season, and there’s a lot to look forward to. The longer, warmer days give us the perfect opportunity to get busy in the garden and tick off some chores from our list.
We can start by trimming the winter flowering shrubs, which are slowly losing their blooms, and prune the dormant plants to prepare them for the growing season. It’s essential to tidy up the garden, scrub the pots and weed out the unwanted plants to create a clean slate for the upcoming months.
If you’re looking to add some colour to your garden, now is the perfect time to prepare the seed beds by clearing them of debris and sowing some hardy annual seeds like poppies and sweet peas. These flowers will bloom outside, giving your garden a vibrant look.
To keep your garden healthy and in top shape, here are some essential jobs that you can do this March.
1. Get your soil ready
As the soil starts to warm up, March is the perfect time to prepare your beds and borders. Start by clearing away any debris, weeds, and old plant material, and enrich the soil with well-rotted compost or manure to provide vital nutrients for your plants.
2. Sow some seeds
There’s plenty of seeds to sow in March.
Vegetable seeds to sow in March:
- Lettuce
- Brussel sprout
- Brussels sprouts
- Summer cabbage
- Beetroot
- Cauliflower
- Leeks
- Onions
- Peas
- Spring Onion
- Carrots
- Turnips
Flower seeds to sow in March:
- Sweet peas
- Nicotiana
- Cosmos
- Verbena
- Rudbeckia
- Dianthus
- Saxifraga
3. Plant early vegetables
Give your vegetable garden a head start by planting early crops like potatoes, onions, and peas. If we’re expecting a cold spell, consider protecting tender plants with cloches or fleece.
4. Prune and divide
March is an excellent time to prune shrubs and trees before they come into full leaf. Trim back any dead or damaged growth, and shape your plants for the coming season. Also, divide any overcrowded perennials to promote healthy growth.
5. Feed and mulch
Boost your garden’s nutrition by feeding your plants with a balanced fertiliser. Mulching your beds with organic matter will help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure over time.
6. Start composting
Begin a compost pile with kitchen scraps, garden waste, and shredded paper. Compost is a valuable resource that enriches your soil and reduces waste, promoting sustainable gardening practices.
7. Invite wildlife
Encourage wildlife into your garden by providing food, water, and shelter. Install bird feeders, nesting boxes, and insect hotels to support biodiversity in your outdoor space.
8. Plan ahead
Use March to plan out your garden design for the year ahead. Consider what plants you want to grow, any new features you’d like to incorporate, and how you can make the most of your outdoor space.
