March Gardening Taskssubmitted on 1 March 2013
Although you never know what weather to expect in March, there should be some better days mixed in with the cold to encourage us gardeners to get outside and get stuck into some of the tasks that need addressing this month. I have listed some below which may apply to your garden.
1) If you have spring bulbs flowering, take note of which are providing the best display and which aren't doing so well. This will enable you to see what bulbs you need to order for planting next autumn. It is always worth taking some photos to remind you. Once the bulbs have finished flowering, allow the foliage to die back naturally as this will help the bulb build up its food reserves and produce stronger flowers next year.
2) Plant summer-flowering bulbs.
3) Shrubs grown for their colourful winter stems, eg. Cornus (dogwood) and Salix (willow) should be pruned now. Cutting them back to around 30 cm (12 inches) will allow new stems to grow, providing colour in the garden next winter.
4) Now is the time to lift and divide any overgrown herbaceous perennials before they make too much new growth. Plants that have been growing in the same position for a few years should be split, discarding the older parts of the plants and planting the young, fresh growths. Prior to planting herbaceous plants, make sure the soil is free of weed roots and give it a feed of compost. You may need to take anti-slug measures!
5) Cut back hardy fuchsias, lavatera, cotinus and Buddleja davidii to between 75cm and 1m.
6) It's not too late to plant roses but try to avoid planting them where roses have been grown previously. Alternatively you could remove all the soil from your planting hole and replace it with soil from elsewhere in the garden not previously used for rose growing. Don't forget to dig in plenty of compost and to prune back new roses in late March or early April.
7) Late March or early April is the time to prune established bush and standard roses, once the risk of sharp frosts has passed. Your roses will appreciate the application of granular rose fertiliser as they come into growth, while a mulch of composted green waste will also be beneficial.
8) Smarten up your containers by giving them a wash and then applying a top dressing of fresh compost.
9) Before fresh growth complicates things, take a last look at your garden's winter profile, as this is the perfect time to add plants which will give you more winter interest next year.
10) If you have any hedges to cut back, then do it now before the start of birds nesting season.
11) If we get any warm days, open vents and doors of greenhouses to reduce humidity and improve air circulation. This in turn will help prevent disease.
12) Warmer weather leads to the appearance of insects and a mild spring can see pest problems developing earlier than usual. Be vigilant.
13) Weeds will be starting to appear so keep on top of them.
14) If you have a greenhouse or somewhere else suitable to keep them, it is worth buying annual and bedding plants as small plugs, as they’re such good value. Pot them on into 8-10cm pots and keep in a greenhouse or a draught-free area for three to four weeks, watering them regularly. Once the weather is warm enough, plant them out into their final position. Yesterday I potted up 24 double petunias which had been purchased at our local supermarket at a reasonable price.
15) If you haven't already got a compost heap, now is the time to start. With all your garden waste plus grass clippings and vegetable peelings you should have enough raw material to produce a worthwhile amount of compost. However you would be advised to read some guidance about the balance you need of various ingredients before filling your compost bin with grass cuttings.
I hope you have a sunny and productive March.
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