Top Gardening Tips for March
March Gardening Jobs: Preparing Your Garden for Spring🌱🌸
March is a month of transition – the days are getting longer, and there’s a noticeable shift in the air as winter begins to retreat. This is the perfect time to tend to your garden and ensure it's ready to burst into life as the warmer months arrive. Here’s your tips of gardening tasks for March to set your outdoor space up for success:
1. Remove Developing Seedheads from Daffodils & Spring Bulbs 🌷
As your daffodils and other spring bulbs begin to fade, resist the temptation to cut back their foliage right away. Instead, remove any developing seedheads to direct the plant's energy back into the bulbs. This helps the bulbs store up energy for next year's blooms. Let the foliage die back naturally to ensure the plant gets the nutrients it needs to return even stronger next spring.
2. Fertilise Ericaceous Shrubs 🌿
If you have ericaceous shrubs like rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, or pieris, now is the time to give them a boost with an ericaceous fertiliser. These plants thrive in acidic soil, and a specific fertiliser will provide them with the nutrients they need to stay healthy and bloom beautifully throughout the season.
3. Clear Up Borders by Removing Weeds 🌱
March is a great time to clear up your garden borders by removing any persistent weeds. As the weather warms up, weeds can quickly take hold, so keeping on top of them now will save you from bigger headaches later in the season. Be sure to pull out any weeds by the roots to prevent them from regrowing.
4. Apply Garden Compost as Mulch 🍂
Once your borders are weed-free, apply a generous layer of garden compost as mulch. This helps retain moisture, suppresses new weeds, and adds valuable nutrients to the soil. Mulching also helps protect plant roots from any remaining winter chill, setting your garden up for a fruitful spring.
5. Sow Tomatoes, Chillies, Sweet Peppers, and Aubergines Indoors 🍅
March is the perfect time to start sowing tender crops like tomatoes, chillies, sweet peppers, and aubergines. Begin them indoors in pots, using a warm, sunny spot or under grow lights to give them a head start. These crops need a long growing season, so starting them early will give them plenty of time to mature before they’re ready to be planted outside.
6. Prune Winter-Flowering Jasmine 🌼
Winter-flowering jasmine is a beautiful addition to any garden, but to keep it looking its best, give it a prune in March. Trim back any dead or damaged growth and shape the plant to encourage new blooms next season. A light prune will help maintain its structure and encourage a more abundant display in the years to come.
7. Plant Sweet Peas in Deep Pots 🌸
Sweet peas are a delightful spring flower that add colour and fragrance to your garden. For the best results, plant them in deep pots in March and keep them frost-free. A greenhouse or sunny windowsill is perfect for them until the weather warms up. This early start will allow them to develop strong roots, and you'll have beautiful blooms in no time!
8. Plant Strawberries in Hanging Baskets 🍓
If you're looking for an easy way to grow strawberries while keeping them out of reach of slugs and other pests, try planting them in hanging baskets. The elevation makes it harder for pests to get to the fruit, and it’s a great way to save space in the garden. Plus, the hanging baskets add a touch of charm to any patio or balcony!