My goal is to spend most of March doing my gardening jobs in Mrs Nextdoor’s glasshouse, sowing seed, pricking out and moving seedlings around. I feel so lucky to have this additional space. It really is such a luxury, especially in March when it feels like everything is happening at once.
Every year, I have a bit of a panic when I think I am not going to have enough space – whether that is for my pricked-out seedlings or for the plants themselves in the garden. Yet I cannot stop myself sowing more and more seeds. Perhaps that is what people mean when they talk about spring fever. AB
March gardening jobs
Sow seeds under glass
As I start to sow seeds under glass, I keep detailed notes of what I’ve done and when, and try to remember to write the year on the front of the seed packets, so I can see at a glance when I bought them and how long they have been open. AB
Read our expert guide to planting seeds.
Tidy!
March is the last chance for tidying before the growing season starts. Go through your pots and remove any sad-looking foliage, and chuck out plants that haven’t made it through the winter. Top dress those that remain with a sprinkle of food, such as organic chicken manure pellets, and a layer of fresh compost. AB
Check your rhubarb
If you are forcing rhubarb, remember to keep it well watered. Sitting under cover, it’s easy to forget about, but regular watering will stimulate growth and keep the stems tender, just as they should be. Be mindful of other plants too, particularly those in pots. It’s all too easy to assume that things don’t need watering while the weather is still cool, but that is not the case. AB
Start the weeding
As the growing season begins, weeds will also spring into life. Run a sharp hoe down the rows to make short work of them and keep things looking tidy. AB
Buy your compost
Now is a good time to stock up on compost. I like to have a few bags of seed compost as well as peat-free John Innes No. 2 for pricking out and potting on. AB
Prune out winter interest
Focus on plants grown for winter stem interest or large summer foliage to ensure you get the best display this year. Pleach limes, coppice willow, Catalpa and Paulownia, and hard prune Cotinus, winter-stem Cornus and Rubus. BP
Order and plant summer-flowering bulbs
Get your orders in for dahlias, gladioli and lilies. If weather is still too cold to plant out, store somewhere cool and dry or pot up and grow on somewhere sheltered before planting. BP
Here's more on when to plant summer bulbs and the best to choose
Build growing structures
It’s easier to construct supports for growing fruit and vegetables now rather than later. Use hazel rods or beanpoles to make obelisks, tunnels and frames and cover with protective netting, and weave birch branches into domes. BP
How to make a garden arbour and tunnel using natural structures and how to make your own plant supports
Plant in the green
Gently lift, divide and replant large clumps of winter aconites and snowdrops to establish larger swathes. Alternatively, these can be purchased and planted as bareroot ‘in the green’ plants. BP
Define turf edges
Redefine your lawn edges using a half moon or spade to cut a clean line between borders and lawn, making it quicker and easier to trim with edging shears while instantly creating a smart appearance. BP
