March, for many, heralds the start of the gardening year. With Hellebores, flower bulbs and Primroses bursting into bloom, there’s a real feeling of spring. It’s time for action – sow those seeds, grub out the weeds, mulch and get planting, as there’s a whole lot of things you can be getting on with this month, rain or shine.
Start sowing vegetables. Though it’s too early to sow in unprotected soil yet, you can get started in greenhouse beds and under cloches. Place your cloches over the ground you wish to sow 2 weeks before planting in order to warm the soil up. Sow seeds of beetroot, radish, carrot, lettuce and other salad leaves for an early crop.
Weed and mulch beds and borders. March is the best time to get perennial weeds out, as the soil is soft and moist, with the weeds only having little growth. Use a garden fork all around to loosen the soil, and pull the weed gently but firmly out, ensuring no root is left in the soil. Mulch around the plants thickly with Farmyard Manure compost to deter weed seedlings and ensure the plants are kept moist.
Plant Herbaceous perennials. This is a great time for planting perennials, as the ground is moist, and they have a long time to grow and establish before next winter. Most plants bought at this time of year are smaller and cheaper, and so better value than plants bought later in flower. Come down to your local Cherry Lane Garden Centre to see our huge range!
Prune Autumn fruiting raspberry canes. Cut these down to the ground now to encourage new canes to grow for fruit this autumn. Buy young plants. Young bedding plants are available now to grow on for planting out in late May. Save money by buying them young and enjoy nurturing them through to flowering time. Use a good compost such as Multipurpose with John Innes when potting, adding some slow release fertiliser. Pinch out the growing tips of your plants to make them bushy.
Support existing plants. Buy and install plant supports for any perennials and shrubs that will need support this year. Although the plants don’t need support yet, it is best to allow them to grow into the support rather than adding support when it is needed. Herbaceous supports and grow-throughs are perfect for long-stemmed plants or those such as Peonies that get top-heavy when in full flower.
Cut your lawn. If your lawn needs mowing, give it its first cut of the year. Choose a day when the grass is dry, and raise the blades higher on your mower, as it’s not advisable to cut too short this early.
Sow your bedding plants under glass. It’s time to start sowing your bedding plants: bring your seed compost into the greenhouse for a few days beforehand, then fill trays, scattering the seed as directed on the packet and covering with a fine layer of compost. Exclude light from the trays until the seedlings are up, then keep in a frost-free greenhouse or windowsill until it’s time to prick out.
