Discover Essential Jobs in the Garden in March | Green Spaces Gardening Tips

As winter releases its grip, March marks an exciting time for gardeners everywhere. With the arrival of spring, enthusiasm for gardening grows alongside the blooming flowers and warming soil. This month is packed with essential tasks that can set the stage for a flourishing garden. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a curious beginner, there are numerous activities to dive into and prepare for the growing season ahead.

Here are some essential jobs in the garden in March to help you make the most of this vibrant month:

• Start planning your garden layout and selecting plants.

• Begin sowing seeds indoors for early vegetables and flowers.

• Prepare garden beds by clearing debris and adding compost.

• Prune any remaining dormant plants to encourage new growth.

• Check your gardening tools and make necessary repairs or replacements.

By following these March gardening tips, you can ensure a successful start to your spring gardening journey.

This blog post discusses gardening tasks for March to enhance your garden's appearance and yield. It's the right moment to prepare seed beds, sow seeds, and your final opportunity to prune roses.

Essential Jobs in the Garden in March

1. Assess Your Garden and Make Plans

Before you plunge into gardening tasks, take a moment to assess your garden’s current state. Look for signs of winter damage and evaluate which plants survived. Are there areas that need more sunshine or soil amendments? Take notes on what worked well last year and what didn’t.

Make a plan for what you want to grow this season. Sketch your garden layout, considering plant heights, colors, and blooming times to create a beautiful and harmonious display.

• Tip: Use this time to research new plants or seeds you want to try, feeding your passion for gardening with fresh ideas.

  
  

2. Clean Up Your Garden Space

With your gardening plans ready, it's time to clean up your garden. Remove any debris, dead leaves, and withered annuals remaining from winter. This will tidy the garden and prevent pests and diseases from establishing themselves.

Consider weeding your garden beds. Weeds tend to be more manageable when they are smaller, and tackling them now will save you from larger problems later.

• Tip: If you have perennial plants, prune them gently to promote healthy growth and blooming.

  
  

3. Prepare Your Soil

Soil preparation is fundamental to successful gardening. March is a perfect month to test your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. A soil test kit can show you what amendments your soil may require to help your plants thrive.

Once you understand your soil needs, work in organic matter such as compost or aged manure. This will improve soil structure, fertility, and moisture retention.

• Tip:

  If your garden soil is poor, think about building raised garden beds. This will allow for better drainage and can enhance the growth of many plants.

  
  

4. Start Seeds Indoors

Starting seeds indoors for many plants can provide an early advantage for the growing season. In March, you can plant vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants indoors. Follow the specific instructions for each plant regarding how deep and far apart to plant them. Half-hardy annuals can be easily and quickly grown from seed. Now is the time to sow them indoors or under glass, ensuring you have a variety of plants ready to place in borders, pots, or hanging baskets by May. 

Ensure you have adequate grow lights or a sunny window for your seedlings to flourish. Keep your soil moist but not drenched, and provide gentle air circulation to promote healthy growth.

• Tip: Use biodegradable pots to minimise transplant shock when moving your seedlings outdoors.

  
  

5. Direct Sow Cool-Season Crops

Although warm-season plants must wait longer, March is the time to sow cool-season crops into the soil. Vegetables such as peas, spinach, kale, and radishes flourish in the cooler temperatures of early spring.

Prepare your garden bed by loosening the soil and removing any large clumps. Follow the instructions on your seed packets regarding plant depth and spacing, and mark your rows for organisation.

• Tip: If there's a chance of frost, use row covers to protect young seedlings and keep them warm.

  
  

6. Prune Trees and Shrubs

March is an excellent time to prune various trees and shrubs. Removing dead or diseased branches can boost the overall health of your plants and encourage new growth.

Pruning fruit trees like apple and cherry can enhance fruit production. Research the specific needs of each type of tree or shrub, as techniques can vary considerably.

Hydrangeas, which bloom in late summer, should be pruned now, especially if you've kept the dead flowerheads as a feature throughout the winter.

If you cultivate dogwoods, like Cornus alba, that produce vibrant stems in winter, you should cut them back to small stems with just one or two pairs of buds over the next few weeks. It may seem drastic, but it ensures the best display of new stems next winter. Therefore, it's best to plant them where their absence won't be missed in early summer.

As with some shrubs, the basic pruning rule for various climbers and wall plants is to prune the varieties that flower on the current season’s growth now, but avoid pruning varieties that bloom on the previous season’s growth (e.g., actinidia), as this will prevent them from flowering this year. They should be pruned in late summer/autumn.

Clematis varieties that bloom in summer or autumn, particularly large-flowered types such as Jackmanii and late-summer small-flowered viticelli varieties, should be pruned down to the ground, leaving only small stems with two sets of new buds. This practice promotes vigorous growth and plentiful flowering. If not pruned annually, the plant may develop a tangled mass of dead-looking growth with few flowers.

• Tip: Use sharp and clean tools to make precise cuts, limiting damage to the plant.

  
  
  
  

  

  
  

7. Fertilise Your Lawn

As the temperatures rise, your lawn will start to emerge from dormancy and need attention. March is a perfect time to apply a fertilizer formulated for early spring.

Assess your lawn's condition and determine whether it needs aeration or overseeding. Aeration can help relieve soil compaction, while overseeding can increase density, leading to a healthier lawn overall.

• Tip: Monitor the rainfall to ensure your lawn gets sufficient moisture after fertilisation for optimal results.

  
  

8. Divide Perennials

As you prepare your garden for spring, consider dividing perennials that have outgrown their space or become crowded. March is a great time for this task since many perennials are dormant.

Dig around the base of the plant, lifting it gently from the soil. Use a sharp spade to divide the plant into smaller sections, ensuring each has roots. Replant the divisions in well-prepared soil and water them thoroughly.

• Tip: This is also a wonderful way to expand your garden's variety without spending too much money.

  
  

9. Create a Pollinator Garden

Gardening is not only about growing beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables—it's also about supporting the ecosystem. March is a perfect time to start planning a pollinator garden that attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Choose native plants that bloom at various times during the growing season to provide consistent food sources. Consider plants like echinacea, bee balm, and milkweed, which are recognized for attracting a range of pollinators.

• Tip: Refrain from using pesticides; they may negatively impact pollinator populations.

  
  

10. Start a Compost Bin

If you haven't started composting, March is an ideal time to initiate a compost bin. Composting reduces waste and provides nutrient-rich material to enhance your garden.

Choose a suitable bin or create a pile in your back garden. Be conscious of what you add; avoid meat and dairy products that attract pests.

• Tip: Turn your compost regularly to ensure aerobic decomposition, helping to speed up the process.

  
  

Conclusion

March is a crucial month in the gardening calendar, filled with opportunities to lay the groundwork for a successful garden. Whether evaluating your garden area, beginning seed planting, or getting ready for helpful pollinators, these activities can result in a vibrant outdoor haven.

By adopting these March gardening tips, you can cultivate a lively landscape and connect with the beauty and peace that nurturing nature provides. Whether caring for flowers or cultivating fresh produce, each step you take this month will enhance the success of your gardening efforts.

So roll up your sleeves and prepare to cultivate your green thumb. Here’s to a prosperous gardening season ahead!