Download March Gardening Guide
Prune
- If wisteria haven’t been pruned, do so now as it’s the last chance before they can be pruned without bleeding sap
- New trees, hedges and climbers can all be continually pruned as needed
- The stems of willows and dogwood can be pruned to encourage new growth
- Roses should have their final prune by completely removing dead, damaged or diseased stems
Plant
- Sweet peas and broad beans can be sown once the soil reaches 6C. A better crop will be achieved if you use cloches to make the ground warmer
- Mustard and rocket can be sown early if the weather is warm and mild, however you need to be relatively certain the weather will keep up
- Lilies can be planted either in the ground, or in outdoor pots
- Now is the time to plant new hedges if desired
- Cut-and-come-again salads can be planted now but will need to be kept under cover until the weather is warmer
Harvest
- Any parsnips and leeks left in the ground need to be harvested now, as they won’t last any longer
- Winter lettuces from the previous year should be ready to start harvesting
- Rhubarbs which haven’t been forced will be ready for harvesting from mid-March
Miscellaneous
- Protect any new shoots from slugs by burying part-filled jars or bowls with beer around the shoots. Check and empty these daily.
- Open up greenhouse and conservatory vents and doors on warm days to circulate fresh air
- Hedges, shrubs and trees should be fed with an all-purpose fertiliser and then mulched to keep the nutrients in