Tips for March
Pruning time again. With spring coming earlier and earlier, March can be a changeable month weather-wise, but the tidy up continues, and it is a good time to start pruning your Buddleja, Caryopteris and Hydrangeas back in time for the summer growth. Also purple or yellow-leaved elders, so that they produce long stems of new growth as the season progresses. You will find some of the winter flowering shrubs that have finished flowering can be pruned now.
Thin out and shorten back the stems of the bushy Spiraea 'Goldflame', which will then produce a lovely first flush of coppery young shoots.
For a more stylish effect, established clumps of tall bamboos can be thinned out now, taking out up to a third of the older canes at ground level. This makes space for new canes, and lets more light into the clump which in turn brings out the markings and colours on the stems.
Late March is a good time to carry out pruning on evergreen shrubs that may have suffered frost damage such as Hebes and Euonymus with the young growing tips scorched by frost.
Never prune members of the Daphne family as they dislike pruning. Some climbing shrubs such as Winter Jasmine and Chaenomeles can be pruned immediately after flowering.
All rose pruning should be completed by mid March.
Lawns
Work on the lawn really begins this month. As soon as the grass has started to grow and the weather and ground conditions are favourable, rake the lawn to remove leaves and surface rubbish.
Do not rake too vigorously at this stage or you will damage the grass.
The first cut should merely remove the top of the grass - close cutting at this stage will result in the grass yellowing. Choose a day when the surface of the lawn is dry.
It is the time to apply the first moss and weed killer of the season. Use one of branded products that are available in the garden centre (Evergreen, Phostrogen and Scotts all make excellent products) read the instructions on the packaging carefully before treating your lawn. Choose a period in the month when the weather is mild, when the grass is dry and frost free.
Avoid mowing the lawn three days before and at least four days after treatment. You may have to retreat the lawn in four to six weeks time to get rid of all the moss.
It is important not to get any Chemical on to any shrubs or tender plants planted in borders around the lawn as at best, it will scorch them or at worse kill them.
Do not compost grass clippings from the first cut of the lawn following any form of chemical weed or moss control treatment.
It is also a good time this month to do any patching repairs either with new turf cut into any bare patches or to re-seed such areas.
March is a good time to re-define lawn edges with a half-moon cutter, where they have grown out of line or have been trodden down. Small amounts of turf can be chopped up with a spade and put into the compost heap.
Flowers
Unlike so many bulbous rooted plants, Snowdrops can be lifted and divided as soon as the flowers fade. It is advisable to lift and replant in this way every few years. If the bulbs are too closely packed together, many may fail to flower in future years.
Pots of daffodils can be put into the garden after flowering. Remember the scented Paper white narcissi need a hot sunny spot to flower again, not shade under trees.
A large variety of young herbaceous plants are now available in our garden centre. All at very reasonable prices.
Always plan your borders before you begin planting and plant in groups of three or five for maximum colour effect. Single plants give a less effective display.
Many established herbaceous plants will be growing lots of young growth now, you may need to thin out some of the growth. Cuttings can be taken of some plants such as Delphiniums, Phlox, Lupins and Penstemons. These cuttings will need the protection of a glasshouse or frame.
As the weather improves with warmer days some of the hardier annual seeds can be sown now direct into the garden.
It is time now to plant or transplant evergreens again, now that the soil is warming up but before buds have begun to burst. Water them well, especially in windy weather, until they are re-established. This is the time to put in conifer hedges.
Patio pots of agapanthus can be given water again and a top-dressing of general fertiliser. Potted lilies can be re-potted in fresh compost and watered lightly until growth recommences.
Tidy up evergreen ornamental grasses and sedges, pulling out dead leaves, and shortening back the remainder a little. Feed with a general fertilizer, such as Growmore, Fish, Blood and Bone or Chicken fertilizer (6X).
Give a light dressing of growmore fertilizer to alpine troughs and sinks.
Fruit Garden
Plums and Damsons will be coming into flower this month.
Peach, Nectarines and Apricot trees growing on walls will also come into flower now. At this time of year there are few insects flying about so hand pollination with a small paint brush will aid pollination and lead to a bigger fruit yield, simply brush the pollen from one flower to another.
Raspberries will benefit from a mulch of well-rotted manure not only to feed the plants but also protect the roots and keep them moist. Plant new canes now.
As Apples, Pears and Plums come into leaf watch for the first signs of insect damage, spray as soon as pests appear.
It is very important not to spray any insecticide or fungicide whilst fruit trees are in flower, wait until flowering has finished.
Mulch strawberry plants with old compost.
Vegetable Garden
The work really begins now with early sowings of onions, parsnips and broad beans direct into the garden.
Broad beans and peas that have been shown in pots in the greenhouse or frame should be hardened off now before planting out.
Towards the end of the month carrots, turnips, raddish and lettuce can be sown.
Also remember to check any Rhubarb that you are forcing, those young tender shoots will soon grow with some warm Spring days.
Green House
Begonia and Dahlia tubers can be started this month by placing the tubers in trays of potting compost. As soon as the growth is large enough cuttings of dahlias can be taken.
Towards the end of the month many of annual bedding plants can be grown from seed sown now in a heated glass house or frame.
In the garden centre we have a wide range of ready grown seedlings available, just waiting for you to take home and plant out in seed trays or pots - Begonia, Impatiens, Lobelia, Petunias and many more to choose from.
We have a wide range of young rooted cuttings from Fuchsias, Geraniums to Basket plants now available just waiting for you to get an early start with planting up hanging baskets and containers.
Remember all these seedlings and plants must be kept in frost free conditions particularly at night time.
A little ventilation will help keep botrytis and other fungus diseases at bay.
Watch that greenhouses do not overheat on sunny days, and get them opened up in good time. Look out for the first colonies of aphids on greenhouse plants and deal with them quickly.
Houseplants
A wider range of houseplants is now available to buy, these will include Azaleas, Begonias, Senetti (which can be put outside shortly), Primroses plus many other flowering and foliage plants.
Our staff are always available to help with the care of houseplants, pests and diseases which may occur as the days get warmer.
The Garden Pond
Switch on your pumps and filters now, it is good practice to give your pump a good clean first.
Continue to treat the pond with barley straw for blanket weed.
As the weather warms up begin to feed your fish.
Divide and re-pot large established pond plants before they come into growth.
Uncover and check over water features.
Check pipe work for leaks or perished pipe work.
Check electrical fittings for water leaks.
Always remember to get advice from a certified electrician.
We have a wide selection of self contained water features available from the end of March.
General
Think about adding water butts to down pipes now in case we get a drought in the summer. We have a good selection in stock
We have in stock a good range of hanging baskets, from wrought iron through to a range of wicker type baskets and accessories.
Now is the time to buy Mini Greenhouses, and coldframes to protect young plants from late frosts.