Gardening Calendar - March

As winter finally loosens its grip, bringing longer days, rising soil temperatures, and the opportunity for an increasing range of gardening tasks. A real opportunity to get ahead, the work you do now sets the tone for a healthy, high‑performing garden right through summer. 

Planting summer flowering bulbs like Dahlia, Lily, and Freesia can guarantee your summer garden is a colourful haven. Bulbs make a magnificent display planted in containers or borders and are one of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow. Gladioli, Lilies and Eucomis are great for adding summer colour and interest.

March can still be a little chilly for a lot of vegetables, but you still have the option of starting them off indoors or in a greenhouse. Some crops, such as chillies and tomatoes, should be sown early to give them the long growing season they need. Others, such as salads, can be started off early so you can enjoy them in late spring and early summer, but keep sowing them every few weeks to extend the harvest. March is the month to plant early potatoes, onion sets and sow hardier veg like beetroot direct outdoors.

Hardy annuals such as Cornflowers and Poppies can be sown direct outside, where they are to flower. These do best on 'poor' soil, so don't enrich it with fertiliser. Half-hardy annuals such as Dahlias, Zinnias and Perennials are best sown under glass, and should be planted out into fertile soil after all risk of frost has passed.

March is the last month where you can plant bare-root trees and fruit canes such as blackcurrants, while they are dormant, and is also a good time to plant potted shrubs as the soil begins to warm up. Why not plant some early Spring flowering shrubs like Forsythia, Ceanothus and Magnolias to boost colour in the garden through early spring?

Now is the ideal time to lift and divide herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses to rejuvenate your plants.

Finally, support garden wildlife. Cold nights can limit natural food sources, and birds may struggle just as breeding season approaches. Provide a regular supply of quality feed and fresh water, clean out birdboxes, and install new ones early to give nesting birds the best start. 

Kevin Blake - Horticultural Manager at Meadow Croft