Gardening Jobs in March | Judge Explains

Bloomin' heck, it's March and early spring already?! How time flies when you're having fun in the garden. Winter might still have its frozen fingers tightly gripped around our wee plots, but spring is most definitely just around the corner. Whilst most of us have been kipping under the duvet, dreaming of warmer days pottering about in our wellies, the garden has been hibernating, just waiting for us green-fingered types to rouse it from its slumber. It's time to roll up those sleeves, put the kettle on and get cracking on all those essential gardening jobs that need doing this month. Grab yourself a nice cuppa and a biscuit and read on for my tips on what's top of the to-do list in your veg patch this March!

Indoor Gardening/Houseplants

Tend to your indoor plants by removing dead foliage and encouraging fresh growth with a high-nitrogen feed.
Check for any pests. As it gets warmer and plants more active so will the insects and pests that can damage your plants. Catching them early can save time and money later on.
As the light levels increase give the leaves of your plants a spring clean with a soft cloth so they can absorb all the increasing light and be healthy
If using a heated propagator, plant small gardens of tender herbs and most vegetables to get a head start.
Houseplants will require more regular watering as the temperature heats up and the days get longer.
If using a heated propagator, plant small gardens of tender herbs and most vegetables to get a head start.

Outdoor Gardening

March is the time to start your outdoor gardening jobs. Start with a spring clean of your garden paths and borders. Remove winter debris and any remaining dead wood and get ready for the growing season ahead.
Mulch your beds with bark or other materials to keep weeds down. Remember to take out weeds as the earlier the better to prevent them from seeding and causing havoc later on.
Fire up the lawnmower to make sure it's working and clean up all your tools ready.
Deadhead spring bulbs allow their foliage to die down naturally.
Ensure the lawn edges are neat and the grass is mown to about one-third of its length. Remember to service your lawn mower ready for the year-round colour ahead.
Roses: if the ground is soft enough. plant bare root roses. If not keep the roots moist in a cold place like your shed until ready and finish off pruning your roses and don't be afraid to go hard as they will come back. you can still Prune Roses and take off any unwanted stems on your climbers.
Plant Summer Bulbs: The best time to plant summer flowering bulbs is generally in the spring, from March to May. These bulbs, which include popular varieties such as dahlias, lilies and gladioli, need to be planted after the last frost when the soil has had a chance to warm up. Planting at this time allows the bulbs to establish a strong root system before they start to flower in the summer. Always remember to follow the specific planting instructions for each bulb variety, as depth and spacing requirements can vary.
Shrubs: Apply a fertiliser to your shrubs to get them started. Use an ericaceous feed for your acid-loving plants such as Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Camellias and a normal feed for your other shrubs. Applying bone meal or well-rotted manure is also a good option.
Pruning Shrubs: look to prune any of the faster-growing shrubs like buddleias, dogwwod, forsythia, spirea, hardy fuchsias. Always remember to make your cuts just above a bud and to use sharp, clean tools to minimise the risk of disease.
Vegetable Patch: if you have a veg plot at home follow the guidelines for Allotment vegetable gardening below.
Flower beds and raised beds: if it is not too hard and the weather is good, start digging over your borders and weeding them. If you have clay or limey soils add in some garden compost, well-rotted manure, or peat-free compost to freshen it up. Just don't let your weeds flower and re-seed even this early as it will cost you later on.
With the growing season coming, it's worth considering a compost bin. This will provide you with a fresh batch of compost for the next planting season.
Lawns: As we transition into March, it's time to turn our attention to the lawn.
- Start by clearing any winter debris such as fallen leaves and twigs. Moss can be a common problem at this time of year; if it's prevalent in your lawn, use a scarifier to remove it and improve aeration.
- If your lawn is compacted, consider aerating it using a garden fork. This helps to improve water and nutrient penetration, promoting healthier grass growth.
- Apply a spring lawn fertiliser to provide your grass with the essential nutrients it needs after winter.
- If the weather permits, give your lawn its first cut of the year, but remember to keep the blades of your mower high. Too close a cut can stress the grass and leave it vulnerable to pests and diseases.
- Now is also a good time to repair any damaged edges and re-seed bare patches to achieve a lush, green lawn in the upcoming summer.
Ponds:
Birds: keep your bird feeders topped up and clean now and then. If you like you could look to set up a corner of the garden and plant bird-friendly plants such as coneflowers (rich in nectar), Sunflowers, berries and fruits to eat and many more.

Patio Gardening

Plant summer flowering bulbs in hanging baskets and containers for an added pop of colour. Remember to keep them in a frost-free place until the weather warms up.
If you have climbing roses on your patio, prune them back to encourage new growth.
Clean and prepare your patio furniture and decking for the coming warmer months.
Plant up any old containers after sterilising them or thoroughly washing them with early spring bedding such as pansies, primroses, polyanthus and frost hardy mini cyclamen for some bright early colour. You can always plant up again in May when they start to get tired.
Always remember unclean containers can lead to overwintered root diseases such as pythium and unwanted bugs and red spider mites which can cause havoc in your garden later on and cost you a lot of money with sprays and lost plants.

Greenhouse Gardening

Clean and tidy up your glasshouse, removing any dead material. Ideally, wash it down with soapy water to a recommended cleaner from your garden centre or online. If you have left your bubble insulation up then clean behind this as well. Remember over overwintered diseases and pests will cause you big problems later on and cost you money and time, so it is worth the effort. Your Tomato plants will reach you later with a bigger harvest.
Add Fresh compost to your indoor beds for cut flowers and veggies and dig in well to freshen it up and you have well-drained soil.
Plant up any overwintered tubers/corms such as cannas ready for planting out later.
If you have a heated greenhouse holding around 15C or more then look to sow:

Tomatoes: Start sowing tomato seeds in your greenhouse in March. These plants prefer the warm environment of a greenhouse and will thrive when the temperature is consistently around 15°C.

Peppers and Chillies: Both sweet and hot varieties can be sown in March. They need a long growing season and a greenhouse provides the warmth they love.

Cucumbers: Sow your cucumber seeds in March as they are tropical plants and will benefit from the controlled environment of a greenhouse.

Aubergines: Sow aubergines in a heated propagator or a warm windowsill then move them to the greenhouse once they have sprouted.

Sow up your hardy annuals, half-hardy annuals, perennials and annual plants, so you can plant them out later on.
Hardy annuals are an excellent choice for adding a burst of colour and life to your greenhouse or garden during the cooler months. For a UK climate, in March, you can sow the following hardy annuals:

Sweet Peas: Known for their vibrant colours and sweet fragrance, sweet peas can be sown in March and will grow well in the cooler climate.

Cornflowers: These hardy annuals, with their bright, blue flowers, can be sown under glass in March.

Calendula: Also known as pot marigolds, these are robust, hardy annuals that can be sown in March.

Nigella: Nigella, or Love-in-a-Mist, can be sown in March. They produce beautiful, intricate flowers in a range of colours.

Larkspur: This tall, spiky flower brings height and colour to any garden. Sow in March under glass for best results.

Half Hardy Annuals: In a UK climate, March is an ideal time to sow several half-hardy annuals under glass. The young plants can then be moved to the garden when the weather warms up slightly. Here are a few recommendations:

Cosmos: These are easy to grow and produce a variety of brightly coloured flowers. Sow them in March in a propagator or on a warm windowsill.

Zinnias: Known for their hardiness and vibrant hues, zinnias are a perfect addition to any garden. Start them off in the greenhouse in March.

Petunias: These offer a cascade of colour and can be started in a heated propagator in March. Check varieties as not all are so hardy.

Antirrhinums (Snapdragons): These classic flowers, with their distinctive dragon-shaped blooms, can be sown under glass in March.

Perennials: Below are some perennial plants you can start sowing in your greenhouse in March in a typical UK climate:

Bellis Perennis (Daisy): These classic British garden flowers can be sown under a glass cover in March to bring a splash of colour to your garden year after year.

Digitalis (Foxgloves): With their distinctive tall spikes of flowers, Digitalis can be sown in March. These are biennials, meaning they will flower in their second year.

Achillea: A reliable and hardy perennial, Achillea can be started off in a greenhouse in March. They will produce clusters of small, tightly packed flowers.

Lupins: Known for their impressive flower spikes, Lupins can also be started under glass in March, ready for planting out when the weather warms.

Echinacea: These robust perennials, with their large daisy-like flowers, can be sown in a greenhouse in March. They’re also known for their medicinal properties.

Annual Bedding Plants: In the UK, March is an excellent time to start sowing annual bedding plants. Here are some options to consider:

Begonias: These vibrant and versatile plants can be sown in March under glass. Begonias are renowned for their colourful, summer-long displays and shade tolerance.

Impatiens (Busy Lizzies): Impatiens can be sown in a propagator in March. Known for their bright colours and continuous flowering, they are perfect for beds, borders, and containers.

Marigolds: These easy-to-grow, colourful flowers can be sown under glass in March. Marigolds are excellent for adding vibrant orange and yellow hues to your garden.

Nicotiana (Tobacco Plant): Nicotiana can be started in a heated propagator in March. This plant provides a unique addition to your garden with its trumpet-shaped flowers and pleasant scent.

Remember, these are just a few of the numerous annual bedding plants you can start sowing in March. Your choice will depend on your garden's conditions and your personal preference.

There are many others to choose from but Remember, when sowing perennial seeds in March, ensure you maintain a suitable temperature and humidity level in your greenhouse.

Remember, these half-hardy annuals will need to be protected from any late frosts.

Remember to follow the instructions on your seed packets for the best results.

Remember, the greenhouse allows you to control the temperature and humidity conducive to the growth of these plants. Therefore, ensure regular watering, feeding, and adequate ventilation to keep the plants healthy.

Allotment Vegetable Gardening/ Veg Plot

Keep taking out those weeds, and clean up your shed ready for those spring mornings when it's warm enough to sit outside with a hot flask, or basque in the sun in the evenings as the days get longer.
Over Wintered Veg: give your cabbages a feed as the soil warms up and they start growing.
Seed Sown Vegetables: once the soil softens and starts warming sow your vegetable seeds such as early carrots, and parsnips, outside and use a cloche if there are late frosts.
Potatoes: Start and plant early potatoes and hardy veg in your vegetable plot. Make sure the soil conditions are well drained.
Erect a horticultural fleece over tender plants to protect them from late frosts. Remember to add more compost to your compost heap as you start your winter digging.
Over Wintered Veg: These hardy vegetables can withstand frosty conditions and can be fed as the soil warms up to encourage growth. Cabbages, Brussels sprouts, Leeks, Swede, Perennial Spinach, Winter Onions.
Vegetable plants: Start to plant your hardy herbs in containers, Shallots, Onions, and Asparagus.
Tomatoes/Peppers/Cucumbers: start sowing your seeds ready for planting in the greenhouse or outside. Wherever you sow make sure there is a min. of 15C such as a heated greenhouse or windowsill as they will not germinate as well. if in colder areas of the UK start sowing later in March to avoid late frosts when planting out in May.
Fruit Trees: March is an ideal time to give your fruit trees some attention. I
- if you haven't done so already, finish pruning apple and pear trees before the buds break into new growth.
- Consider applying mulch around the base of your fruit trees to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Make sure you keep the mulch away from the trunk to prevent rot. If weather conditions are mild, you can start planting new trees.
- Remember to water newly planted trees thoroughly and stake them for support. Monitor for signs of pests and diseases and treat them accordingly.
- Also, if you have peach or nectarine trees, protect them from peach leaf curl by sheltering them if rain is forecasted.
Soft Fruit plants, March is a crucial time for preparation and maintenance.

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