What Do I Need to Do in the Garden in March?
It’s not just our interiors that can benefit from a spring clean as the seasons change – it will do wonders for your garden, too
Claudia De Yong
5 March 2021
Houzz UK contributor and award-winning landscape and garden designer. Claudia de Yong Designs offers a consultancy and design service for the private and corporate client. We are also able to source anything for the garden from plants to pots, paving and architectural features . Please visit my new online shop for garden products.
Houzz UK contributor and award-winning landscape and garden designer. Claudia de... More
The weather may be changeable this month, but March sees the start of the gardening year roll in, come rain or shine. That means it’s time to get going with all those jobs you couldn’t do in the colder months – weeding, mulching and digging organic matter into the soil, as well as planting herbaceous perennials. It’s also the perfect time to give your garden a good spring clean – getting on top of the work now will reap rewards later in the season.
Feed your acid-loving plants
Plants that grow best in acidic soil, such as rhododendrons and camellias, need feeding with ericaceous feed, especially if your soil is neutral or alkaline. You can also give the plants a dose of sequestered iron to prevent the leaves from turning yellow.
If you need to trim any pine trees in your garden or they have shed a load of leaves, don’t burn them, but use as a mulch around the base of any acid-loving plant to help acidify the soil – this is really great for blueberries.
Plants that grow best in acidic soil, such as rhododendrons and camellias, need feeding with ericaceous feed, especially if your soil is neutral or alkaline. You can also give the plants a dose of sequestered iron to prevent the leaves from turning yellow.
If you need to trim any pine trees in your garden or they have shed a load of leaves, don’t burn them, but use as a mulch around the base of any acid-loving plant to help acidify the soil – this is really great for blueberries.
Prune your hydrangeas
If you’ve left last year’s flower heads on your hydrangeas to overwinter, now’s the time to deadhead. Don’t remove the stems with a flower head on top, but snip old stems just above the top healthiest bud and prune out weaker shoots from the base of the plant.
To keep older plants looking healthy, cut out thick, woody stems from the base to keep the plant compact.
If you’ve left last year’s flower heads on your hydrangeas to overwinter, now’s the time to deadhead. Don’t remove the stems with a flower head on top, but snip old stems just above the top healthiest bud and prune out weaker shoots from the base of the plant.
To keep older plants looking healthy, cut out thick, woody stems from the base to keep the plant compact.
Prep your borders
This is the ideal time to plant herbaceous perennials, which are starting to come into garden centres in March, or showing signs of new life again in borders after dying back in winter. I get so excited at this time of year seeing all the fresh new growth and healthy plants emerging.
If any of your perennials need dividing and moving, do it now to improve their vigour and you will create so many lovely new plants for your garden. Plant in odd numbers for a better effect, as just one of something – unless a specimen – always looks lost in a border.
This is the ideal time to plant herbaceous perennials, which are starting to come into garden centres in March, or showing signs of new life again in borders after dying back in winter. I get so excited at this time of year seeing all the fresh new growth and healthy plants emerging.
If any of your perennials need dividing and moving, do it now to improve their vigour and you will create so many lovely new plants for your garden. Plant in odd numbers for a better effect, as just one of something – unless a specimen – always looks lost in a border.
Spruce your lawn
Your grass will start growing now, so rake up any fallen leaves and moss before you give it the first cut of the season. Before you do cut, pull a stiff brush over the lawn to encourage the blades of grass to stand up. Set your mower high, at about 2.5cm, until the grass grows more, when you will need to lower the setting.
It’s also a good idea to trim the edges of the lawn with a half-moon edging tool to make your borders look neater. Using a plank as a guide will ensure a straighter edge: lay it where you want your line to be, then stand on it as you push down your edging tool along its length.
You might also like Can I Have a Lawn-free Garden That’s Kind to the Environment?
Your grass will start growing now, so rake up any fallen leaves and moss before you give it the first cut of the season. Before you do cut, pull a stiff brush over the lawn to encourage the blades of grass to stand up. Set your mower high, at about 2.5cm, until the grass grows more, when you will need to lower the setting.
It’s also a good idea to trim the edges of the lawn with a half-moon edging tool to make your borders look neater. Using a plank as a guide will ensure a straighter edge: lay it where you want your line to be, then stand on it as you push down your edging tool along its length.
You might also like Can I Have a Lawn-free Garden That’s Kind to the Environment?
Primp your pond
I spend a lot of my time chest deep in ponds and, even in waders, it isn’t that warm at this time of year. However, if you haven’t already started to clear weed and cut back, as well as repot your aquatic plants, then be brave and get in!
First, tackle the plants: repot if you can see the roots bursting out of the baskets, and top dress with a layer of shingle. You should also remove any dead or decaying leaves; some stems will just come away without cutting at the base.
Despite the cold temperature, there will still be a great deal of blanket weed to remove, but be careful, as it can attach to rocks and stones as you pull. Also leave it on the side of the pond before disposing of it, so as to allow any creatures to get back into the water.
You might also like Garden Tour: A Small Plot Transformed into a Lush Wildlife Haven.
I spend a lot of my time chest deep in ponds and, even in waders, it isn’t that warm at this time of year. However, if you haven’t already started to clear weed and cut back, as well as repot your aquatic plants, then be brave and get in!
First, tackle the plants: repot if you can see the roots bursting out of the baskets, and top dress with a layer of shingle. You should also remove any dead or decaying leaves; some stems will just come away without cutting at the base.
Despite the cold temperature, there will still be a great deal of blanket weed to remove, but be careful, as it can attach to rocks and stones as you pull. Also leave it on the side of the pond before disposing of it, so as to allow any creatures to get back into the water.
You might also like Garden Tour: A Small Plot Transformed into a Lush Wildlife Haven.
Air and clean your greenhouse
Keep you greenhouse well ventilated, especially on warmer days. It’s surprising how quickly the temperature inside can rise, even if the sun is only out for a short time. Plants don’t like extremes of heat or cold, so good ventilation is key and will also keep the bugs down.
Also make sure the glass is clean, to give maximum light to any seedlings. The cleaner the glass, the sturdier the plants will be.
Keep you greenhouse well ventilated, especially on warmer days. It’s surprising how quickly the temperature inside can rise, even if the sun is only out for a short time. Plants don’t like extremes of heat or cold, so good ventilation is key and will also keep the bugs down.
Also make sure the glass is clean, to give maximum light to any seedlings. The cleaner the glass, the sturdier the plants will be.
Treat fruiting trees to potash
To grow a good crop of fruit, add potash now. Although many fertilisers contain potash, add extra if you can. If you’ve mulched around the fruit trees or bushes, move that away before applying the potash. If the soil is dry, water the potash in well as it will have no effect if it can’t reach the roots. Apply new mulch over the top if needed.
You can also spray apple and pears now against scab, especially while the flower buds are tight. You can repeat this now and again when they begin to open.
To grow a good crop of fruit, add potash now. Although many fertilisers contain potash, add extra if you can. If you’ve mulched around the fruit trees or bushes, move that away before applying the potash. If the soil is dry, water the potash in well as it will have no effect if it can’t reach the roots. Apply new mulch over the top if needed.
You can also spray apple and pears now against scab, especially while the flower buds are tight. You can repeat this now and again when they begin to open.
Get your hardy herbs going
Sow hardy herbs outside: these include dill, chives, fennel, marjoram, coriander and parsley. Don’t be afraid to mix herbs in the borders with other perennials to add interest, or plant them in pots and containers for table displays.
You can also create a stunning small herb garden parterre (a formally patterned garden) and edge the beds with rows of chives – but make sure you plant mint in containers or it will take over and run everywhere. Be careful, too, of borage, unless you want your garden filled with it! It has a pretty blue flower, but is a real thug and will invade everything, even working its way into stonework.
Sow hardy herbs outside: these include dill, chives, fennel, marjoram, coriander and parsley. Don’t be afraid to mix herbs in the borders with other perennials to add interest, or plant them in pots and containers for table displays.
You can also create a stunning small herb garden parterre (a formally patterned garden) and edge the beds with rows of chives – but make sure you plant mint in containers or it will take over and run everywhere. Be careful, too, of borage, unless you want your garden filled with it! It has a pretty blue flower, but is a real thug and will invade everything, even working its way into stonework.
Deadhead your daffs
If your daffodils are beginning to fade and look a mess, you can deadhead them, but leave the foliage if you can, as that’s where all the energy is stored for seed production. I get a bit of garden twine and tie the leaves together carefully, top and bottom, so they don’t look too messy. This isn’t necessary in large areas of grass, but it does look neater in the borders.
If your daffodils are beginning to fade and look a mess, you can deadhead them, but leave the foliage if you can, as that’s where all the energy is stored for seed production. I get a bit of garden twine and tie the leaves together carefully, top and bottom, so they don’t look too messy. This isn’t necessary in large areas of grass, but it does look neater in the borders.
Plant asparagus
If you’re planning to grow asparagus, this is the month to start. It’s easy to cultivate and thrives in well-drained soil. The plants don’t grow well from seed, so one-year-old crowns are best.
Start by digging a shallow trench, around 25cm deep and 30cm wide. Add compost and a good handful of bonemeal. Place the crowns carefully 45cm apart, spreading the roots out. Sieve the soil and liberally cover the crowns, so that emerging buds are just below the level of the soil. As they have shallow roots, don’t use a hoe when weeding.
Tell us…
Are you planning to get out into the garden this March? Share any tips and photos in the Comments.
If you’re planning to grow asparagus, this is the month to start. It’s easy to cultivate and thrives in well-drained soil. The plants don’t grow well from seed, so one-year-old crowns are best.
Start by digging a shallow trench, around 25cm deep and 30cm wide. Add compost and a good handful of bonemeal. Place the crowns carefully 45cm apart, spreading the roots out. Sieve the soil and liberally cover the crowns, so that emerging buds are just below the level of the soil. As they have shallow roots, don’t use a hoe when weeding.
Tell us…
Are you planning to get out into the garden this March? Share any tips and photos in the Comments.
Related Stories
Gardening
How Do I Create a Drought-tolerant Garden?
By Kate Burt
As summers heat up, plants that need less water are increasingly desirable. Luckily, there are lots of beautiful options
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
5 Inspiring Before and After Garden Transformations
Check out what a difference designers have made to these once dull plots, visually expanding spaces and creating privacy
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
How to Disguise Rubbish and Recycling Bins Outside Your Home
Need to hide unsightly bins in your garden or driveway? Take a look at these clever ideas for inspiration
Full Story
Garden Tours
Garden Tour: A Bare Roof Terrace Becomes a Pretty, Sociable Space
By Kate Burt
A retired couple got help transforming their large rooftop into a gorgeous, welcoming, multi-functional retreat
Full Story
Garden Planning
Can I Have a Lawn-free Garden That’s Kind to the Environment?
Try these tips to help you plan a garden without grass that’s still leafy and eco-friendly
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
7 Things People Don’t Tell You About Designing a Garden
Uncover some of the more surprising elements of planning a garden redesign
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
9 Ways to Create a More Sustainable Garden
Simple, effective ideas for reducing your environmental footprint and creating a beautiful garden
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
18 Soul-soothing Green Roofs
By Kate Burt
Whether you choose sedum, wildflowers, or a mix, a living roof can be a beautiful and biodiverse addition to your home
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
9 Ways to Enjoy Colour in Your Garden All Year Round
By Kate Burt
However your garden grows, you can add colour with hardscaping, furniture and accessories
Full Story
Garden Planning
How to Identify Your Garden Design Style
Before starting an outdoor renovation, take the time to determine which garden style suits your taste and site
Full Story
...frogs!
Living wall
Our last house backed on a small burn (stream), which resulted in frogs and toads hopping about our back yard, which is not an experience I ever want to relive much as I like the idea of a pond I don’t think I could go with