March

In The Fruit Garden This March

Feed blueberry plants with ericaceous plant fertiliser.

Cover strawberries with a cloche to encourage earlier fruiting.

Mulch fruit trees with well-rotted manure or garden compost. Take care not to mound mulch up around tree trunks.

Cut autumn-fruiting raspberry canes to the ground to stimulate new canes, which will fruit in the autumn. Cut the tips of summer-fruiting raspbery canes that have grown beyond the top of their supports, cut just above a bud.

Protect the blossoms of apricots, peaches and nectarines from frost with a screen or horticultural fleece.

Top Tips:

Mulch rhubarb with a thick layer of well-rotted manure to keep it healthy and reduce moisture loss through the soil. Take care not to cover the crown, as this is where the growth happens.

This Month's Key Tips
  • Start to feed pond fish.
  • Protect new shoots from slug damage.
  • Refresh the surface soil in planted pots.
  • Plant out summer flowering bulbs.
  • Clean up paths, patios and decking.