March Monthly Gardening Jobs

Now is the time to order your summer flowering bulbs such as dahlias, gladioli, begonias and miscellaneous.  It would be a good time to cut back hedges before birds start to nest and consider planting new trees, hedges, climbers and roses.

• Cut back hedges before wild birds start to nest.
• Start to prune roses removing dead, damaged or diseased stems.
• Keep off the grass during frosty conditions.
• Plant up growbags with seed potatoes, tomato plants, beetroot, carrots, peas and beans.
• Protect young plants against slugs and snails.
• Plant lilies in borders or pots.
• Order onion sets, shallots and main crop seed potatoes.
• Keep feeding wild birds prior to nesting.
• Prepare seed beds in fine dry weather. Cover with fleece to improve soil temperatures.
• Dig over wintered green manures for planting within a couple of weeks.
• Plant snowdrops in the green once flowers have finished.  The plants establish quicker this way.
• In a mild winter give your lawns a first cut, ensure mowers are on a high setting then rake and feed.
• Start sprouting dahlias in warm conditions.
• Pick off developing seed heads on daffodils and other spring bulbs but leave the foliage to die back naturally.
• Plant forced bulbs which have finished flowering into the garden.
• Now is a good time to plant roses and shrubs.