March
In The Flower Garden In March
Feed trees, shrubs and hedges with a slow-release fertiliser by lightly forking it into the soil surface.
Prune roses to encourage strong new growth.
Plant summer flowering bulbs.
Prune clematis – prune early-flowering varieties once their flowers have finished and summer flowering ones before they start into active growth.
Top up raised beds with compost and good quality topsoil.
Finish cutting back cornus and other shrubs grown for their colourful winter stems, cut them right back to their base.
Prune overwintered fuchsias back to one or two buds on each shoot.
Move deciduous trees or shrubs. Now is the time to do this task, providing the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged.
Finish cutting back dead foliage from perennials and ornamental grasses to make way for new growth.
Continue to deadhead winter pansies to stop them setting seed. This will encourage flushes of new flowers throughout the spring.
Put supports in, if any of your garden plants need supporting this year, now is the ideal time to do so as putting them in afterwards is tricker and can often make the plants look unattractive.
Top Tip:
Feed roses with special rose feed or balanced fertiliser as they come into growth.
- Remove weeds, thatch and moss from your lawn and improve drainage.
- Plant summer flowering bulbs.
- Protect new spring shoots from slugs.
- Hoe and mulch weeds to keep them under control early.
- Top dress containers with fresh compost.