March Gardening Hints

Well Marchiis finally here and spring is on its way. It’s a busy month in the gardening calender.

At the time of writing we have just endured three storms on the trot and the ground is extremely wet, don’t be tempted to try and dig or hoe as you can do damage by treading on it and ruining the structure of the soil. Hold off until the ground warms up and dries out a bit. Using cloches to warm up the soil is ideal at this time of year and will give a head start to early showings of vegetables.

March is the best month to prune roses back hard, cut back to 2 or 3 shoots from the ground preferably leaving outward facing shoots to avoid crisps crossing branches in the centre of the rose.

When the soil has dried a bit, get on your borders and cut back last years grown from all herbaceous perennials. This will allow light and air to the new shoots trying to push through, if in doubt call in the garden centre for help.

Top dress with well rotted manure all fruit brushes and trees or use chicken pellets with grow more or fish blood and bone.

Once the ground has dried a little and the soil is worked to a fine filth, you can sow lettuces, radishes, onions, leaks, early peas, spinach, broad beans, sprouts, cabbage and parsnips.

With crops like lettuce sow in small areas at 2 – 3 week intervals, this will give you a succession over a long period instead of all at once.

If you have any queries or you’re a beginner, please don’t hesitate to come into the garden centre and I will endeavour to help you, don’t forget we never stop learning even thn the most experienced gardeners still listen and pick up new tips and ideas.

It is very important to keep on top of the weeds as they begin to emerge this month. Get them young to protect them from seeding, it makes the rest of the years so much easier.

As always take time to enjoy your garden, sit back and relax with a drink of your choice and take in the sights and smells of spring emerging. Eventually it will warm up a bit and I will indulge in a nice beer. Cheers Nigel.

Source: Nigel, Art Garden Centre.