March

The Edible Garden

New fruit trees and bushes can still be planted this month don’t leave it too late as they will need time to establish before coming into full growth in spring. Dig in well rotted manure and organic matter before planting.
Look out for early aphid attack in warmer areas on fruits and roses and take measures to control now and lessen the numbers over the summer period.
In the vege garden, the soil can be prepared for later seed sowing. Covering the soil for a period with clear polythene helps increase soil temperature more quickly for early seed sowing.
Many vegetables can be sown this month in milder areas - broad beans, peas, spinach, summer cabbage, leeks, turnip, and summer lettuce and salad greens.
Garlic, onion and shallots can all be planted now.
Early crop potatoes that have been sprouted can be planted later in the month in mild climates.
Use the greenhouse to start off seeds of summer veges such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce.
Green crops which have over wintered, such as spring cabbage, can now be fed with a fertiliser high in nitrogen such as poultry manure.
Perennial herbs such as thyme, sage mint and chives, can now be lifted, split, and replanted.
The Flower Garden
Now that spring is here it is the perfect time to plant out new herbaceous perennials such as delphiniums. If you haven’t already done so it is not too late to lift and divide clumps growing in your garden. Now is also the time to be putting in supports for the taller growing varieties.
Summer flowering bulbs can be planted now Make sure the soil is well prepared and that you have provided good drainage to reduce the risk of the bulbs rotting.
Flower borders can be fed with a general purposes fertiliser.
The red and yellow stemmed dogwoods or Cornus can be cut to the ground. They will produce new colourful stems over summer for a great display next winter.
Now is a good time to check pots and containers. Plants that have become pot bound will need to be taken out of the pot and split into smaller plants or have the roots trimmed before replanting into fresh potting compost. Other pots will benefit from a top up of compost and a dressing of slow release fertiliser. Containers will need more regular watering from now on.
Hardy annual flowers can be sown direct into the garden in well prepared ground.
Begonia tubers can be started into growth indoors or in the glasshouse.
Prune bush roses this month. Cut out any old or damaged stems as close to ground level as possible, and take out any thin or spindly growth. Prune good healthy stems back to an outward facing bud, keeping the overall shape of the bush in mind.
 

General

Prepare ground for sowing new lawns later in the month. Spray to remove all weeds - Roundup is good for this. When weeds are dead cultivate ground, removing all stones and other debris. Rake and level, then compact by using a roller or treading. Re rake between each rolling - do this several times for a good ,level, clean ,sowing surface.
In windy or exposed areas protect the new growth and flowers of ornamental deciduous trees such as Acer and Cornus with a screen of wind break material.
Late winter/ early spring flowering shrubs which have finished flowering, such as Forsythia and Ribes, can be pruned. These plants flower on stems produced the previous season. When pruning, take out the stems which have flowered ,and new growth to take their place will occur over summer for flowering next season.

What to look for in store this Month

Lawn seed.
Lawn weed and feed.
Starter plants
Heathers
Compost
Rose Fertiliser
Chicken manure
Pansies and Violas