March 2024

MARCH IN THE GARDEN

1 Herbaceous plants such as Hostas, Hemerocallis (Day Lily) and Phlox should be

divided now if the clumps are too congested.

2 Cut back Buddleija (Butterfly Bush) now by pruning hard back to get plenty

of new growth and keep the plant compact.

3 If we are lucky enough to get some drier weather and the soil surface dries out,

keep the hoe moving to get rid of newly germinated weed seedlings.

4 Now is a good time to start off Begonia corms for planting out later. Start off the

corms in small pots or trays using a multi-purpose compost. Bury the corms

completely by covering with no more than ½ inch of compost and keep warm.

5 As Daffodils finish flowering, remove the dead heads but leave the stems to die back

naturally over the next few weeks. Never cut away or tie up the green leaves

6 Protect newly emerging young shoots from the ravages of slugs and snails.

7 A mulch of well-rotted compost around your plants will pay dividends later in the

year when the soil dries out.

8 Cut down winter shrubs used for stem colour now for a good display next winter.

9 Start off Dahlia tubers in a greenhouse or frame for early planting out later. Tubers

can also be planted in the garden now if planted with at least 10cm (4ins) of soil

above the tuber top.

10 Start regular cutting of lawns with the blades set at a higher level for a few cuts.

11 Gladioli corms can be planted now, but plant a few each week up to May to get a

succession of flowers through the summer.

12 This month and April is a good time to repot Phalenopsis (Moth Orchids), if they have

been in their pot for two years or more. Shake away all old compost, trim away any

dead roots but leave all the silvery healthy roots. Use an Orchid Compost for this

task.

13 Remove the tips from autumn sown Sweet Peas, this encourages basal shoots to

develop where you will get the best possible display of flowers this early Summer.

14 Do not be tempted to cut hedges at this time of year because of nesting birds. Leave

until the nesting season is over.

15 Tidy up Strawberry plants now by removing all dead or very old foliage. Feed with

Blood Fish and Bone Meal around the plants.

16 Sow Peas outside directly into well prepared soil about 1” deep.

17 Start sowing indoor Tomato seeds for a crop later on.

18 Plant Onion sets, leaving the very tip of the set exposed.

19 It is too early to start sowing tender vegetables such as Runner Bean and French Bean

– leave this until April.

20 Prune Blueberry bushes by removing about a third of the oldest wood to encourage

new growth from the base.