What to do in March

As spring begins to emerge in March we are able to spend longer outside and there’s a lot to do in the garden to prepare for the upcoming growing season:

Things to do in March:

Start mowing lawns regularly and reseed any bare patches.
Mulch bare soil in borders.
Put pond pumps back into the pond.
Water you indoor plants regularly.
Propagate shrubs by layering.
Prune shrubs with colourful winter stems.
Prune shrub and bush roses.
Move evergreen shrubs.
Increase stocks of herbaceous perennials by taking basal stem cuttings and take cuttings from dahlia tubers.
Split polyanthus after flowering.
Sow sweet peas outdoors or plant out young plants raised under cover.
Sow hardy annuals where they are to flower and sow vegetables outside.
Harden off young vegetable plants to put outside.
Plant early potatoes and asparagus.
Protect fruit blossom against late frosts.

Last Chance:

Finish planting bare-root trees and shrubs.
Plant snowdrops and winter aconites.

Getting Ahead:

Take grow bags into the greenhouse to warm up before planting.
Put stakes in to support perennials later in the year.

The Weather

Transitioning from winter to spring, with average day time temperatures ranging from 8°C to 10°C and night time temperatures between 2°C to 4°C. Spring is starting to emerge but nights can still be chilly with occasional frosts, especially in the first half of the month.
Rainfall is generally moderate, but drier than winter months.
Increasing sunshine, especially towards the end of the month, though it can still be quite cloudy at times.

Here’s a detailed checklist of what to do in the garden during March, broken down into categories for clarity. March is a transitional month - you’ll be wrapping up winter tasks and starting spring-activities. The weather can still be unpredictable (frosts, wind, heavy rain), so always check the soil and weather before tackling jobs.

General Tasks

Prepare for spring planting:	Clear any debris from the garden and prepare garden beds by adding compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and fertility.
Check tools:	Clean, sharpen and oil your gardening tools so they’re ready for the busy season ahead.
Plan your planting:	Finalise your planting schedule, order seeds and start planning your garden layout.
Frost:	Watch out for frost and be ready to protect any vulnerable seedlings.

Vegetables & Herbs

Harvesting:	Swiss chard and beet will start regenerating as the temperature rises so you can harvest the fresh leaves.
Warm the soil:	Warm the soil ready for early outside seed sowing using cloches or black plastic sheeting.
Sowing indoors:	Now is the time to sow many seeds indoors, such as tomatoes, leeks, onions, aubergines and brassicas.
Sowing outdoors:	You can start sowing hardy vegetables like carrots, parsnips, spinach and lettuce outdoors if the soil is workable.
Hardening off young plants:	If you’ve started any seeds indoors, begin hardening them off by acclimatising them to outdoor conditions in a sheltered spot for a few hours a day.
Plant early potatoes:	If the soil is not waterlogged, you can plant early potatoes in prepared beds.

Fruit

Plant fruit trees:	March is the last month for planting bare-root fruit trees and bushes so they have time to get established.
Pruning:	Cut back all of last year’s canes from autumn raspberries, blueberries can have one third of their older wood removed.
Feed and mulch fruit plants:	Apply a balanced fertiliser around established fruit trees and bushes and mulch with compost or manure to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

The Flower Garden

Divide perennials:	If the weather is mild, you can start dividing perennials like Hostas and daylilies to promote stronger growth. Towards the end of the month polyanthus type primulas can be divided.
Cut back old growth:	Remove any old, dead growth from perennials, grasses and deciduous shrubs to allow fresh growth to come through.
Dahlia cuttings:	You can take cuttings once the new shoots are 3 to 4” long before the stems become hollow.
Start sowing seeds:	Sow hardy annuals, such as sweet peas, calendula and cornflowers, directly into beds or in pots. You can also start sowing early perennials indoors.
Plant spring-flowering bulbs:	Plant any remaining spring-flowering bulbs like alliums, tulips and hyacinths, which you may have forgotten or bought in late winter.

The Greenhouse

Sow more seeds:	Sow crops like leeks, early brassicas (cabbage, kale) and herbs such as basil and parsley indoors or under glass.
Harden off young plants:	Begin acclimatising indoor-grown seedlings to outdoor conditions, gradually increasing their exposure to sunlight and lower temperatures.
Ventilation:	As temperatures rise, open the greenhouse vents and doors on sunny days to improve air circulation and prevent mould growth.

Containers

Prepare for summer:	If weather permits, start planting container plants for the summer season, such as begonias or fuchsias, but keep them indoors or in a sheltered spot until the risk of frost passes.
Check drainage:	Ensure containers have adequate drainage to prevent waterlogging as temperatures start to rise.

Trees & Shrubs

Planting:	March is a good time to plant bare-root trees and shrubs while the ground is still cool and moist. It is also a good time to move evergreen shrubs.
Prune deciduous shrubs:	Prune any remaining deciduous shrubs, such as hydrangeas or buddleia to shape them and remove dead or damaged wood. Unless you did it last month you can still prune shrub and bush roses but not climbers as you will lose this year’s flowers.
Feeding:	Apply a slow-release fertiliser around established trees and shrubs to encourage healthy growth as they come into active growth.

Hedges

Plant new hedges:	If you’ve planned to plant a new hedge, March is a good time for planting bare-root plants.
Trim hedges:	If the weather is mild, you can start to trim and shape hedges like boxwood, yew and laurel to tidy them up and encourage dense new growth.

The Lawn

Mowing:	The lawn can now be cut more regularly as grass will be growing steadily now however gradually reduce the height of the cut.
Repair bare patches:	Seed any bare patches with grass seed to ensure even growth and gently rake in to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
Scarify and aerate:	If the lawn is dry enough, you can scarify (rake up moss and thatch) and aerate the grass to improve the health and vitality of the turf as it starts to grow.
Feeding:	Apply a spring lawn fertiliser to boost growth as the grass comes out of dormancy.

Wildlife and the Pond

Clean and maintain the pond:	Clear away any fallen leaves or debris from the pond and clean the filter to ensure the water quality remains high.
Check water levels:	Top up the pond water if necessary, especially after a dry winter, to ensure there’s enough water for the plants and wildlife.
Plan for new plants:	As the water warms, consider adding new pond plants such as oxygenators, lilies, or marginal plants to support the aquatic ecosystem.
Wildlife:	Check for frogs, newts and other wildlife waking up in or around the pond and ensure there are no obstructions or hazards to them.

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