Gardener’s calendar - March

March is a busy and exciting month for gardeners, as the spring officially arrives and the garden comes to life. The weather is warming up, the soil is thawing, and the plants are growing. There are many tasks that you can do in March to make the most of the season and prepare your garden for the summer. Here are some tips and ideas for different types of gardens.

Key takeaways

What to do	What to plant	What to harvest
Weed and hoe your soil and beds	Maincrop vegetables like potatoes, onions, and leeks	Spring vegetables like spinach, radishes, and spring onions
Harden off and transplant your seedlings	Annual flowers like pansies, violas, and nasturtiums	Herbs like chives, coriander, and dill
Divide and replant your perennials	Fruit trees and bushes like apples, pears, and raspberries	Spring flowers like daffodils, tulips, and primroses
Support and train your climbers and vines	Lawn grass and wildflowers	Rhubarb and forced chicory

Weed and hoe your soil and beds

One of the first tasks that you can do in March is to weed and hoe your soil and beds, to remove any unwanted plants and improve the condition of your soil. Weeds can compete with your plants for space, light, water, and nutrients, and can also harbor pests and diseases. Hoeing can help break up the soil surface, aerate the soil, and incorporate organic matter. Here are some steps to follow:

• Choose a dry and sunny day to weed and hoe your soil and beds, as the weeds will be easier to pull out and will dry out and die faster.
• Use a sharp and sturdy hoe to cut off the weeds just below the soil surface, and rake them up and dispose of them. You can also use a hand weeder or a trowel to dig out any deep-rooted or persistent weeds, such as dandelions or bindweed.
• Avoid hoeing too deeply or too close to your plants, as you may damage their roots or disturb their growth. You can also use a mulch or a weed barrier to suppress the weeds and prevent them from germinating.
• Hoe your soil and beds regularly, at least once a week, to keep the weeds under control and maintain loose and fertile soil.

Harden off and transplant your seedlings

Another task that you can do in March is to harden off and transplant your seedlings, to acclimatize them to the outdoor conditions and give them more space and nutrients to grow. Hardening off is the process of gradually exposing your seedlings to the outside temperature, light, and wind, to reduce the shock and stress of the transition. Transplanting is the process of moving your seedlings from their original containers or trays to their final growing location, such as a pot, a bed, or a border. Here are some tips for hardening off and transplanting your seedlings:

• Start hardening off your seedlings about two weeks before transplanting them, when the weather is mild and settled, and the risk of frost is low.
• Place your seedlings in a sheltered and sunny spot, such as a porch, a patio, or a cold frame, and leave them there for a few hours a day, increasing the duration and exposure each day.
• Bring your seedlings indoors or cover them with a fleece or a cloche at night, or if the weather is cold, windy, or rainy.
• Water your seedlings well before and after transplanting them, and avoid transplanting them in the hottest part of the day, to prevent wilting or scorching.
• Dig a hole or a trench for your seedlings, slightly larger and deeper than their root ball, and add some compost or fertilizer to the bottom.
• Carefully remove your seedlings from their containers or trays, holding them by the leaves and not by the stems, and gently tease out any tangled or circling roots.
• Place your seedlings in the hole or the trench, and fill in the gaps with soil, firming it around the base of the stem. Make sure the soil level is the same as it was in the container or tray, and that the stem is not buried or exposed.
• Space your seedlings according to the instructions on the packet, or the size and shape of the plant, leaving enough room for them to grow and spread.
• Water your seedlings thoroughly, and mulch them with a layer of organic material, such as straw, bark, or grass clippings, to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Divide and replant your perennials

Another task that you can do in March is to divide and replant your perennials, to rejuvenate them and increase their number. Perennials are plants that live for more than two years and usually flower every year. Dividing and replanting can help improve their health, vigour, and flowering, as well as prevent overcrowding and diseases. Here are some tips for dividing and replanting your perennials:

• Choose a cool and cloudy day to divide and replant your perennials, to avoid stressing or drying out the plants.
• Select the perennials that need dividing, such as those that have become too large, too old, or too sparse. You can also choose the perennials that you want to propagate, such as those that have attractive flowers, foliage, or fragrance.
• Lift the perennials from the soil with a fork or a spade, and shake off any excess soil. You can also wash the roots with water to make them easier to see and separate.
• Divide the perennials into smaller sections, using a knife, a saw, or your hands, depending on the type and size of the plant. You can also use pruning shears or scissors to trim any damaged or diseased roots or stems.
• Replant the sections in the same or a different location, depending on your preference and design. You can also give away or swap the sections with other gardeners or friends.
• Dig a hole or a trench for the sections, slightly larger and deeper than their root ball, and add some compost or fertilizer to the bottom.
• Place the sections in the hole or the trench, and fill in the gaps with soil, firming it around the base of the stem. Make sure the soil level is the same as it was before, and that the crown or the buds are not buried or exposed.
• Water the sections thoroughly, and mulch them with a layer of organic material, such as straw, bark, or grass clippings, to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Support and train your climbers and vines

The last task that you can do in March is to support and train your climbers and vines, to guide their growth and shape their appearance. Climbers and vines are plants that have long and flexible stems that can climb or trail over other plants or structures. Supporting and training can help prevent them from becoming tangled, unruly, or invasive, as well as enhance their beauty and productivity. Here are some steps to follow:

• Choose a suitable support for your climbers and vines, such as a trellis, a pergola, a fence, or a wall. You can also use natural supports, such as trees, shrubs, or hedges.
• Install the support securely and firmly, making sure it can withstand the weight and the wind of the plants. You can also use hooks, nails, or screws to attach the support to the structure.
• Tie the stems of your climbers and vines to the support, using a soft and flexible material, such as twine, string, or wire. You can also use clips, rings, or ties to secure the stems to the support.
• Arrange the stems of your climbers and vines in a pattern or a direction that you like, such as horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or spiral. You can also prune or pinch the stems to encourage branching or flowering.
• Check and adjust the stems of your climbers and vines regularly, to make sure they are growing well and not damaging the support or the structure. You can also untie and retie the stems as they grow longer or thicker.