Welcome to our March Gardening Guide! As the chill of winter begins to fade, it's time to get your hands dirty. Let’s look at the first thing to remember as you prepare your garden for the upcoming growing season.
March is a crucial month for gardeners, offering a golden opportunity to kickstart the growth of your plants. When the soil is nurtured, it creates a flourishing garden paradise. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the essential tasks that will set the stage for a successful gardening experience.
So, grab your gardening gloves and let's dive in!
March Gardening Guide: Nurturing Your Soil
One of the first steps to a thriving garden is ensuring your soil is healthy and nutrient rich. As the soil becomes workable, take the time to nourish it. Add a generous layer of compost or well-rotted manure, about 10cm or more, to prepare your beds for the season ahead.
Through my experience there is no requirement to dig this into your flower borders. The manure will prevent loss of moisture in periods of hot weather and function as a weed barrier. The manure will provide essential nutrients and improve the soil structure.
This is a tried and tested method I have recommended to my clients for twenty years plus now. On the other hand, as an alternative, consider incorporating a general-purpose fertilizer such as pelleted chicken manure or fish, blood, and bone.
Supporting Your Plants
Plants need a helping hand as they grow and reach for the sun. Now is the time to put supports in place for your garden plants and climbers. By installing supports early, you'll ensure that your plants have the necessary structure to thrive. Waiting until later can be challenging and may result in an unattractive tangle of stems. So, take the initiative and give your plants the support they need.
Moving Trees and Shrubs
March presents an excellent opportunity to move deciduous trees or shrubs, provided the soil isn't frozen or waterlogged. If you've been contemplating a change in your garden layout or if a tree or shrub isn't thriving in its current spot, now is the time to make a move. Carefully transplant them to a more suitable location, giving them a fresh start and a chance to flourish.
March Gardening Guide: Revitalizing Your Flower Garden
Your flower garden deserves some special attention this month. Start by feeding your trees, shrubs, and hedges with a slow-release fertilizer. This will provide them with the necessary nutrients to support healthy growth. Lightly fork the fertilizer into the soil surface, ensuring it reaches the root zone.
As your roses come into growth, it's the perfect time to feed them with a special rose feed or a balanced fertilizer. This extra boost will contribute to robust growth and beautiful blooms. While you're at it, give your roses a prune to stimulate new growth. Our pruning guide provides valuable instructions to help you achieve the best results.
In addition to pruning, it's time to cut back winter stems of Cornus, Salix cultivars, and other shrubs known for their colourful winter displays. By cutting them right back to their bases, you'll encourage new stem growth, ensuring a vibrant show for the following winter.
Promoting branching in mahonia shrubs is another task on the list. After they have flowered, remove the top rosette of leaves. This pruning technique will stimulate branching and give your shrubs a fuller, bushier appearance.
March Gardening Guide: Preparing for New Growth
As the garden awakens, it's essential to make way for new growth by clearing away dead foliage from perennials and ornamental grasses. This tidying up not only improves the aesthetics of your garden but also allows space for fresh shoots to appear.
If you've been nurturing winter-flowering jasmine, now is the time to prune it. After it has finished flowering, cut back the previous year's growth to about 5cm from the old wood. This pruning method encourages new growth, ensuring a beautiful display for the following year.
Keeping an Eye on Pests
As the weather warms up, it's crucial to be vigilant against garden pests, especially slugs. These slimy creatures can wreak havoc on your plants, particularly targeting soft, new growth. Consider using nematodes as an effective organic control method. Our guide on how to beat the slugs provides valuable tips and advice to protect your garden.
March Gardening Guide: Caring for Your Lawn
Your lawn deserves some attention too! March is the time to recut any lawn edges that have become uneven. This will give your lawn a neat and tidy appearance. If you haven't already done so, consider installing lawn edging to make future maintenance easier.
Mowing your lawn on a dry day is also recommended. Set your mower blades slightly higher than usual to allow the grass to establish a strong root system. If you have bare patches or areas that need improvement, consider laying new turf or preparing the soil for growing new grass from seed.
Embrace the Gardening Journey
March is a month of transformation in the garden. By dedicating time and effort to these essential tasks, you'll create a solid foundation for a bountiful and beautiful garden. Remember to enjoy the process, take pride in your achievements, and embrace the joys of nurturing nature.
Paste your text and add you media here