What to Do in the Garden in March

March is when the garden really comes alive. Spring bulbs are flowering, birds are nesting, and there's a long list of jobs to tackle. This is peak sowing season and the perfect time to get your garden ready for summer.

Key Takeaways for March

Sow hardy vegetables outdoors and tender crops under cover
Divide perennials and ornamental grasses
Plant summer-flowering bulbs
Start feeding lawns and apply moss killer
Mulch borders after spring rain
Pot on young plants from earlier sowings

Flowers

Spring is in full swing with daffodils, tulips and other bulbs creating stunning displays. Start preparing for summer by sowing and planting now.

March Flower Tasks

Divide summer-flowering perennials like hostas and hemerocallis
Plant summer-flowering bulbs including gladioli and lilies
Sow hardy annuals directly where they are to flower
Deadhead daffodils but leave foliage to die back naturally
Cut back penstemons to fresh growth at the base
Prune bush roses if not done earlier
Start dahlia tubers into growth indoors
Plant out sweet peas raised under cover
Lift and divide congested clumps of snowdrops
Remove winter protection from tender plants

Fruit and Vegetables

March is prime sowing time. Get ahead with sowings both indoors and out, and prepare beds for the growing season.

March Fruit and Veg Tasks

Sow tomatoes, aubergines and peppers in warmth
Direct sow peas, broad beans, parsnips and beetroot
Plant early potato varieties
Sow salad leaves for continuous cropping
Start runner bean and French bean seeds indoors
Apply general fertiliser to fruit trees and bushes
Plant raspberry canes and strawberry runners
Cover strawberries with cloches for early fruit
Prune autumn-fruiting raspberries to ground level
Weed between established crops

Greenhouse

The greenhouse is working overtime in March. Keep up with watering, potting on and pest monitoring.

March Greenhouse Tasks

Pot on tomato, pepper and aubergine seedlings
Sow half-hardy annuals like cosmos and zinnias
Start off courgette and squash seeds
Increase ventilation as temperatures rise
Watch for aphids and other pests
Water regularly as growth accelerates
Pot on rooted cuttings
Harden off plants gradually before planting out
Sow basil and other tender herbs
Consider shading on very sunny days

House Plants

Houseplants respond enthusiastically to increasing light and warmth. This is an excellent time for repotting and propagating.

March House Plant Tasks

Repot root-bound plants into fresh compost
Increase watering as growth accelerates
Begin regular feeding every 2-4 weeks
Take stem cuttings from trailing plants
Divide congested plants
Wipe dust from leaves
Check for pest infestations

Garden Maintenance

The garden wakes up quickly in March, and maintenance tasks multiply accordingly.

March Maintenance Tasks

Apply lawn feed and moss killer
Scarify lawns to remove thatch
Repair bare patches in lawns
Mulch borders with well-rotted compost
Top up bark mulch on paths and beds
Check pond pumps and filters
Clean out nest boxes before birds start breeding
Edge lawns for a neat finish