March Gardening Tips

Spring is finally here! Those long winter months are behind us and the garden is already showing us that the growing season is back and raring to go. Spring flowering bulbs are now coming into their own as well as forsythia and some early flowering cherry trees. The weather can still be tricky, a mild sunny day can give way to hard frosts so do be mindful! This month is the last chance to finish off those jobs you didn’t get round to in the winter and to get ahead of the busy growing season that is now upon us. Don’t forget, the clocks go forward at the end of this month meaning we get more time to get all our gardening jobs done for when it all really gets going in April!

1. Prune bush and shrub roses –  The main reason for pruning is to build a healthy framework of shoots that will produce a good display of flowers. To reduce any problems with pests and diseases, we want to allow in light and air. Remove any dead or diseased wood and then remove any shoots that are crossing or rubbing against each other. That should leave you with the flowering wood that is healthy. Then, prune these shoots down to around a third of their length to an outward facing bud or a leaf joint. Your rose will look a lot smaller and will be bare but it will react with vigorous growth. Remember to clear up all your prunings and place them in the garden waste bin before mulching your roses with well rotted farmyard manure.
2. Prune dogwoods – Dogwoods and willows can produce bright ornamental stems over winter. These colours are produced on one year old shoots and this is the reason for pruning them in spring. These shrubs can be pruned down to one or two buds of the last year’s growth to leave a stubby framework.
3. Cut down all growth left over winter – If you have left seedheads and stems over winter for some interest, now is the time to cut them back ready for new growth. After a good tidy up, dress the soil with a fertiliser and then cover with a layer of mulch.
4. Protect the shoots of delphiniums and hosts – Slugs and snails can do a lot of damage to young buds before they have even emerged from the soil and you may not see the damage until the leaves begin to open up. There are many measures to control slugs and snails. At Nicholsons, we like to take an organic approach, utilising methods such as nematodes. If your plants are in pots, place a strip of copper tape around the pot as a barrier that will prevent the pests from getting to your flowers.
5. Plant summer flowering bulbs – To ensure a succession of flowers, plant summer flowering bulbs such as lilies. Plant your bulbs in intervals over a few weeks to ensure flowers throughout summer. All varieties enjoy a sunny position in well-drained soil. Plant lily bulbs to three times their own depth and 7-10cm apart. If you have clay soil, which a lot of us do in the Oxfordshire area, then plant the bulbs on a layer of grit to aid drainage.
6. Harden off hardy annuals – If you have sown any hardy annuals under cover, these can be hardened off now to acclimatise them to outdoor conditions. Place the plants in a cold frame with the top closed for a few days. Then, gradually lift the lid up to increase ventilation until it can be taken off completely – this is usually done over 7-10 days. If a sharp frost is forecast, then close the lid and cover with horticultural fleece.
7. Lawn care – It’s that time of year where the grass begins to grow again and will need to be mowed regularly to keep healthy. If you didn’t scarify last autumn, rake out any dead grass and moss. It’s best to apply a moss killer before scarifying any moss in order to prevent it from spreading around the lawn. If you have a small lawn, then a spring tine rake will do the job. On a larger lawn, it is best to use an electric or petrol driven scarifier as it can be hard work! You will be surprised by how much material you will remove from the lawn but rest assured, it will recover and look vastly improved. Towards the end of the month, feed the lawn and reseed any bare patches.
8. Sow herbs outside – Herbs that are hardy can be sown outside this month. These include chervil, chives, dill, fennel, coriander and parsley. Sow the seeds in exactly the same way as for vegetables, in drills, and plant out when you can handle them without damaging. Young plants of herbs that are more difficult to grow such as rosemary, thyme, mint and tarragon can be bought now, come and see our stock at our North Aston site. A dedicated herb garden is one of the most attractive ways to grow these plants but they also look great in borders amongst other plants.
9. Check that fruits have water and protect open flowers – If we have a dry spring, fruits of all description will need to be checked to ensure that they have sufficient water to develop properly. Those in pots and trained against walls and fences should be checked. Trees trained against house walls are especially vulnerable as the leaves often keep off a lot of the rain. The buds and flowers of peaches, cherries and nectarines open up early and can be damaged by frosts. Drape horticultural fleece over them to give them some protection.
10. Sow and plant sweet peas – In Oxfordshire, sweet peas can be planted or even sown outside this month. Germination is often improved by soaking the seeds overnight to soften the seed coat. Plant two seeds at 30cm intervals, and about 1cm deep. When the seeds germinate, the weaker of the two can be removed or moved to fill any gaps. Erect a support for them to climb up and attach their tendrils too. We sell various supports and obelisks at Nicholsons, alternatively you can create your own with bamboo canes, willow canes or wires run along fencing or walls.

Happy gardening!

If you have any further questions or would like some assistance with your garden, then visit our Nicholsons Garden Maintenance webpage.