March Gardening Jobs

Jobs for March

Roses
Prune your hybrid tea and floribunda roses. Start by removing any stems that have been damaged by winter weather and any badly positioned stems. Reduce any remaining stems back by half, prune just above an outward facing bud, with the cut sloping away from the bud.

Clematis
Prune late flowering varieties of Clematis now to prevent them becoming woody and encourage flowering at a lower level.

Planting
Continue planting roses, shrubs, conifers and soft fruit.

Beds and Borders
Top dress beds and borders with a general fertiliser to replace the nutrients washed away by winter rains.

Lawns
If the weather is mild, lawns may be given the first cut of the season.

Bulbs
Summer flowering bulbs and tubers like Gladioli and Dahlias can be started off in pots if kept in a frost free place.

Seeds
Sow seeds of bedding plants, sweet peas and tomatoes in heated greenhouses or propagators. Prick out any early sown, taking care to handle the seedlings by the leaves.

Vegetables
Sow vegetable crops like Peas, Carrots and Lettuce directly into the ground and cover with cloches.

Potatoes and Onions
Seed potatoes and onion sets are available now.

Greenhouse
Any plants being over-wintered in the greenhouse should be inspected on a regular basis for signs of pest or disease. Open doors and vents on mild days to encourage good air circulation.