Spring Into Action: Essential Garden Tasks for March

March marks the start of an exciting season for gardeners as spring begins to show its first signs. With longer days and warming temperatures, now is the perfect time to prepare your garden for the growing season ahead. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you make the most of your garden this month.

1. Prepare Your Soil

Good soil is the foundation of a thriving garden.

  • Clear away weeds, leaves, and debris left from winter.

  • Enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to boost fertility.

  • Turn the soil with a fork or spade to aerate it and improve drainage.

2. Start Sowing Seeds

March is the perfect time to sow seeds, both indoors and outdoors.

  • Indoors: Begin tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers in seed trays or pots.

  • Outdoors: Directly sow hardy vegetables like carrots, radishes, spinach, and peas into the ground.

3. Prune and Trim

Give your plants a healthy start by pruning and tidying up.

  • Remove dead or damaged branches from shrubs and trees.

  • Prune roses to promote strong, vibrant growth.

  • Cut back perennials left for winter interest to make way for new shoots.

4. Plant Flowers and Shrubs

March is a fantastic month for planting.

  • Plant summer-flowering bulbs like dahlias and lilies for vibrant colour later in the season.

  • Add hardy shrubs such as hydrangeas and roses to establish early.

5. Revive Your Lawn

Help your lawn recover from winter and prepare for a lush growing season.

  • Rake away dead grass, moss, and debris.

  • Reseed bare patches for an even, green lawn.

  • Mow lightly if the grass is growing, but keep the mower blades set high.

  • Aerate the lawn by making small holes in the ground to improve water and nutrient absorption—March is a good time to do so if the ground is not too wet or frozen.

6. Control Pests and Weeds

Take early action to protect your garden from common threats.

  • Watch out for slugs, aphids, and other pests as temperatures rise.

  • Apply mulch to suppress weed growth and retain soil moisture.

7. Start Composting

If you don’t have a compost bin, now is the ideal time to begin.

  • Use kitchen scraps like vegetable peelings and coffee grounds, along with garden waste.

  • Avoid adding meat, dairy, or diseased plants to your compost pile.

8. Plan Your Garden Layout

A little planning now can save time and effort later.

  • Rotate crops to maintain soil health and reduce the risk of disease.

  • Map out where you’ll plant flowers, vegetables, and herbs for an organised and productive garden.

March is all about preparing, planting, and setting the stage for a beautiful growing season. By starting now, you'll be rewarded with a garden that thrives in the months ahead, whether you're in Herefordshire or beyond.

Happy gardening!

Rupert Woods