At last spring is on the way. Usually we enjoy warmer days come mid-March, and the longer, sunnier days provide the opportunity for an increasing range of gardening tasks. It’s time to prep seed beds, sow seed, cut back winter shrubs and generally tidying up around the garden.
TOP 10 JOBS TO DO IN MARCH
- Protect new spring shoots from slugs
- Plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes
- Plant summer-flowering bulbs including lilies, gladioli, nerines and freesias
- Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials. Good candidates include Agapanthus, Aster, Crocosmia, Delphinium, Euphorbia, Geranium, Helianthus, Hemerocallis (daylily), Salvia and Verbena.
- Top dress containers with fresh compost. Remove 5cm (2in) of old compost from the top of the pot and replacing with fresh compost.
- Mow the lawn on dry days (if needed)
- Cut back Cornus (dogwood) and Salix (willow) grown for colourful winter stems – they will then have plenty of time to put on new growth
- Hoe and mulch weeds to keep them under control early
- Start feeding fish and using the pond fountain; remove pond heaters
- Prune bush and climbing roses
