March arrived with the brief promise of warmer days and the gentle stirrings of spring before reminding us again that it’s still early days in the gardening calender. As the last vestiges of winter fade, it’s time for gardeners to roll up their sleeves and start thinking about the burgeoning season ahead. Here in the South East we’ve had a relatively mild winter so while we welcome the arrival of spring with open arms, it pays to exercise a little caution.
Prepping the Soil
With the soil beginning to awaken from its winter slumber, March presents an ideal opportunity to prepare the ground for planting. Start by gently cultivating the soil in your garden beds, removing any weeds starting to poke their heads above ground and debris that may have accumulated over the winter months. If you haven’t yet added organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to your beds and borders, there is still time to enrich the soil and improve its structure, readying it for the planting season ahead.
Planting Cool-Season Vegetables
March marks the perfect time to sow cool-season vegetables, taking advantage of the mild temperatures and longer daylight hours. Consider planting varieties such as spinach, kale and radishes, which thrive in the cooler conditions of early spring. These resilient vegetables will not only provide you with a bountiful harvest but also add vibrant greenery to your garden beds.
Pruning and Tidying
As new growth emerges on shrubs and trees, March offers an opportunity to prune and tidy up your garden’s woody plants. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches, making clean cuts just above a healthy bud or lateral branch. Pruning encourages healthy growth and helps maintain the shape and structure of your plants, ensuring they flourish throughout the growing season.
Dividing Perennials
For established perennial plants, March is an excellent time to divide and propagate, rejuvenating overcrowded clumps and promoting vigorous growth. Carefully lift the clump from the ground using a garden fork, and gently tease apart the individual plants, ensuring each division has a healthy root system. Replant the divisions in freshly prepared soil, spacing them adequately to allow for future growth and expansion.
Sowing Hardy Annuals
For an early burst of colour in your garden, consider sowing hardy annuals such as calendula, cornflowers, and love-in-a-mist directly into the soil in March. These resilient flowers can withstand cooler temperatures and will reward you with cheerful blooms as spring progresses. Prepare the seedbed by raking the soil to create a fine tilth, then scatter the seeds evenly and lightly cover them with a thin layer of soil.
Preparing for Frost
While March brings the promise of warmer weather, the threat of late frosts lingers, especially. Keep a close eye on weather forecasts and be prepared to protect tender plants with frost cloths or horticultural fleece if temperatures plummet unexpectedly. Watering the soil around vulnerable plants can also help insulate them against frost damage.
By embracing these essential gardening tasks you’ll set the stage for a season of abundant growth and blooming beauty in your garden. So, don your gardening gloves, feel the earth beneath your fingertips and get ready to welcome the arrival of spring in all its splendor.
As always, if you need help with your garden or have a project in mind, please get in touch here.
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