March in the garden is a time of delightful unpredictability, with hints of spring warmth one day and winter chills the next. By month’s end, the burgeoning life in the garden unmistakably signals the new season’s arrival. In the Gardener’s diary for March 24, we have a quick guide to making the most of this transitional time.
Get Planting
It’s your last chance to plant bare root trees, shrubs, and hedging. Keep them well-watered, especially during those deceptive dry spells.
Feed Your Garden
Whether it’s your veggie plots or flower beds, now’s the time to enrich the soil with manures and fertilisers. Choose organic for a slow release of nutrients or inorganic for a quicker boost, but be mindful not to overdo it on already fertile ground.
Herbaceous Beauties
With a wider selection now available, March is ideal for planting herbaceous plants. But watch out for slugs! They’re keen on tender new growth, so start your slug control measures early.
Onions and Shallots
Now available for planting. Warm the soil beforehand with fleece or cloches for the best start.
Summer Bulbs
Begin planting summer bulbs and tubers, some outdoors and some indoors, to ensure a colourful display later on.
Young Plants and Seedlings
If you’ve planned ahead, now’s the time to get your young plants and plug-grown seedlings into pots or trays. Keep them in a heated space until they’re ready for the garden.
Lawn Care
The mowing season begins, but keep those blades high for the first few cuts.
Garden Birds
Encourage nesting in your garden by setting up nest boxes now. Continue feeding the birds, particularly during cold snaps.
Greenhouses
Clean and disinfect before starting your seedlings off in a disease-free environment.
Patio Pots
Brighten up your patio with early spring flowers like pansies, violas, and primroses, and ensure pots are well-drained to prevent waterlogging.
As the garden awakens, March is a month filled with preparation, planting, and the promise of spring’s bounty. Embrace the season’s start with these tips, and visit us at Farnborough Garden Centre for all your gardening needs. Here’s to a vibrant and thriving garden this spring!
Happy Gardening, Pete
