In The Flower Garden This March

Plant Bulbs 

• Plant spring-flowering bulbs: If you didn’t plant your dahlias, gladiolus, lilies, or corms in the autumn, now is the time to plant them for a summer bloom. Make sure to plant them in well-drained soil. 
• Check existing bulbs: If you have daffodils, tulips, or hyacinths, ensure they’re coming up as expected. Remove any dead flowers and check for any pests or diseases. 

Prune Winter-Flowering Shrubs 

• Prune early-flowering shrubs: After they’ve finished blooming, it’s a good time to prune shrubs like forsythia, spirea, and witch hazel. Removing dead or damaged wood and shaping them will encourage more vibrant blooms next year. 
• Remove dead growth: Trim back any dead or overgrown foliage from winter-flowering plants to allow for new growth. 

Prepare Flower Beds 

• Clean up flower beds: Remove old leaves, weeds, and debris that may have accumulated over the winter. This helps prevent pests and diseases from taking root. 
• Soil improvement: Add compost or well-rotted manure to flower beds to enrich the soil and provide necessary nutrients for spring growth. This will help flowers like roses and lilies thrive. 

Support Growing Plants 

• Stakes and supports: As flowers like lupins, delphiniums, and peonies start to grow, provide supports like stakes or cages to keep them upright as they grow taller and heavier. 
• Climbing plants: If you’re growing climbers like sweet peas, morning glories, or clematis, now is a good time to set up supports or trellises. 

Mulch Around Plants 

• Mulch to retain moisture: Once the soil warms up, apply a layer of organic mulch around your plants and flower beds. This will help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain an even soil temperature as the weather fluctuates. 

Feed Your Flowers 

• Fertilise: Once your flowers start showing signs of growth, give them a boost with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser. This will encourage strong, healthy growth for blooming in the summer. 

Deadhead Early Bloomers 

• Remove spent blooms: If you have early bloomers like primroses or crocuses, remove spent flowers to encourage fresh growth. This will also help prevent the plants from wasting energy on seed production. 

Protect Against Frost 

• Frost protection: Even though spring is on the way, March can still bring cold snaps and frosts. Protect tender plants by covering them with fleece or cloches during particularly cold nights. 

Start Sowing Seeds Indoors 

• Annuals and tender perennials: March is ideal for starting seeds indoors for plants like petunias, begonias, geraniums, and busy lizzies. These need a head start to bloom later in the year. 
• Hardy annuals: You can also start sowing hardy annuals such as poppies, cornflowers, and sweet peas in pots or trays indoors for later planting in the garden. 

By following these tips, you’ll help your flower garden thrive throughout the season and ensure a stunning display of colour in the months ahead. 🌷🌸🌼