March Jobs in the Garden

• Protect new spring shoots from slugs – we recommend ‘slug gone’.
• Plant shallots, onions & early potatoes now.
• Now is the time to plant summer flowering bulbs.
• Top dress containers with fresh compost.
• Cut back Cornus & Salix grown for winter colour.
• Start feeding pond fish & using pond fountain. Remove pond heaters now.
• Prune bush & climbing roses.
• Early Spring is a good time to plant Cottage garden plants.
• Cut back ornamental grasses.
• Divide Hosta’s before they come into leaf.
• Continue to dead head winter pansies to prolong flowering.
• Divide Hellebores & Polyanthus after flowering.
• Feed borders with a general fertiliser – we recommend fish blood & bone.
• Top dress Spring flowering alpines with horticultural grit or gravel, to prevent rotting.
• Continue to plant deciduous hedging, shrubs, trees & climbers. Stakes & rabbit guards should be put in place at time of planting.
• Feed roses with ‘TOPROSE’ as they come into growth.
• Check tree ties & stakes. Replace, tighten or slacken them as required.
• Trim winter flowering heathers as flowers fade.
• Caterpillers, aphids & other flying pests may become problematic as weather starts to get milder.
• Good time to lay Turf.
• In late march apply a high nitrogen fertiliser to your lawn – we recommend Lawn builder lawn food.
• Brush worm casts off your lawn once they have dried out.
• Treat timber structures with wood preservatives & stains in drier spells – we would highly recommend RONSEAL products.
• Remove algae from pathways etc – Patio Magic is excellent for this job.
• Weed around trees & shrubs.
• Lift & divide overgrown lumps of perennials.
• Cut out any reverted (green) shoots from variegated shrubs etc.
• Cut back late summer & autumn flowering clematis.
• Renovate & thin out overgrown climbers.
• Sow a wildflower meadow.
• Molehills will continue to be a problem in Spring. (please speak to a member of staff for advice on options available)