March Gardening Tips

Meteorologically speaking, winter has now passed us by and spring has welcomed slightly longer days with brighter mornings and afternoons. There will still be some weather challenges to keep us on our toes such as frosts and rainy showers, so we must hold off bringing out our tender plants and less hardy seedlings. That said, there is plenty for us gardeners to be getting on with as we prepare for the growing season ahead.

Plant bare root roses. We are now at the point where March is the last chance to plant bare root roses and fill gaps in our borders in readiness for the growing season. With a wide range of tea roses and floribunda shrubs along with climbing and rambler roses, there is a rose that can bring colour and scent into every garden. Our plant centre team can show you our range and help you to select the perfect rose for your garden.
Rose pruning. Prune your rose bushes and shrubs this month unless you got a head start last month. The main reason for pruning roses is to build a healthy framework of shoots that produce a good display of flowers. Thinning overcrowded stems allows light and air to enter, reducing the chance of pests and diseases and encouraging strong and healthy growth. Make sure you have a sharp pair of secateurs for the job.
Spring cleaning. Give your greenhouse and cold frames a good clean. Keeping the glass clean allows for more light, assisting with photosynthesis and allowing any seedlings you have to grow into sturdy, healthy plants. It’s surprising how much dust and dirt accumulates on the glass even in dry weather.
Scarify your lawn. If you did not get a chance in autumn, rake out any dead grass known as ‘thatch’ and any moss with a spring-tined rake on smaller lawns. For larger lawns, use an electric or petrol scarifier. Removing thatch and moss improves air movement and drainage through the grass and also helps you to identify any problem areas affected by disease or compaction. It may make the lawn look worse than it did initially but take heart, it will soon recover and look vastly improved.
Harden off hardy annuals. Any hardy annuals sown under cover can be hardened off now to acclimatise them to outdoor conditions. Place them in a cold frame with the top closed for a few days and then gradually increase ventilation until the lid can be left off or up, usually after 10 days or so. Hardy annuals can now be safely sowed outside in our area.
Deadhead daffodils. As the flowers fade, deadhead your daffodils but leave the foliage alone. If the old flowers are left on, the plant’s energy will be used for seed production. At this time, the important thing is to build up the bulbs’ reserves so that a new flower bud forms inside it for flowering next spring.
Move any evergreen shrubs. With the soil beginning to warm up and the shrubs soon beginning to grow, it is a good time to move them. They will lose less water and will be able to establish in their new home quickly. When moving shrubs, take as large a root ball as you can manage. Protect the shrubs from cold winds and keep well-watered and it should grow well.
Plant hardy perennials. They will grow quickly if they are planted now. Feed and mulch them after planting and keep them well-watered until established.
Protect young shoots. The young tender shoots of plants such as delphiniums and hostas, which are prone to slug damage, need proactive protection. Slugs and snails can do a lot of damage to young buds before they have barely emerged from the soil. A product such as Neudorff Sluggo Slug and Snail Killer, which is methaldehyde free, is certified for organic use and is safe for other wildlife and pets.
Plant early potatoes. Good potato crops to plant now are the rocket or swift varieties. These varieties offer a quick yield and are often ready in around 10 weeks. They are also a good variety to start with if you are new to growing potatoes. Ensure you purchase certified disease-free seed potatoes to ensure a healthy start for your crop.