Get Your Garden Spring-Ready with These Key Tasks
March marks the beginning of spring, bringing longer days, rising temperatures, and the first real signs of growth in the garden. Now’s the time to get ahead with pruning, planting, lawn care, and pest control to ensure your garden thrives throughout the growing season. Here’s your essential March garden checklist to keep everything in top shape.
1. Prepare Your Lawn for Spring Growth
✅ First Lawn Cut of the Year
- On dry days, give the lawn its first light mow, setting blades high to avoid stressing the grass.
- Avoid cutting too short—gradually reduce height as the season progresses.
✅ Scarify & Aerate If Needed
- Scarify (rake out moss and thatch) to encourage strong regrowth.
- Aerate compacted areas with a garden fork or aerator to improve drainage.
✅ Feed and Weed
- Apply a spring lawn feed (high in nitrogen) to kickstart new growth.
- Tackle early weeds and moss with selective herbicides or manual removal.
🌱 Tip: Reseed any bare patches to encourage a thick, healthy lawn.
2. Prune, Trim & Shape Shrubs & Trees
✅ Prune Summer-Flowering Shrubs
- Cut back buddleia, fuchsia, and hydrangea paniculata to encourage strong summer blooms.
- Trim lavender and rosemary lightly to keep them compact and prevent woody growth.
✅ Cut Back Winter Shrubs & Grasses
- Prune back dogwood (Cornus) and willow (Salix) to maintain bright, colourful stems.
- Trim ornamental grasses (e.g., Miscanthus) to ground level to allow fresh new shoots to emerge.
✅ Finish Fruit Tree Pruning
- If you haven’t already, prune apple and pear trees before buds fully open.
- Leave stone fruit trees (plum, cherry, peach) until summer to avoid silver leaf disease.
3. Start Planting for a Vibrant Garden
✅ Sow Hardy Annuals & Veg Outdoors
- Vegetables: Start carrots, onions, peas, broad beans, spinach, and early potatoes.
- Flowers: Sow cornflowers, calendula, poppies, and sweet peas directly into beds.
✅ Sow Tender Plants Indoors
- Start tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, marigolds, and petunias in a warm, bright space.
- Use a heated propagator or sunny windowsill for successful germination.
✅ Plant Summer-Flowering Bulbs
- Lilies, gladioli, dahlias, and begonias can go into pots or borders for a summer display.
🌱 Tip: Acclimate young plants to outdoor conditions before planting them outside.
4. Mulch and Improve Soil
✅ Apply Mulch to Beds & Borders
- Spread compost, bark, or well-rotted manure around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Work in organic matter to improve soil structure and feed beneficial microbes.
✅ Prepare Vegetable Beds
- Dig over soil if needed and add general-purpose fertiliser before planting.
🌱 Tip: Mulching around perennials and roses now will help retain moisture during drier months ahead.
5. Keep on Top of Weeds & Pests
✅ Remove Early Weeds
- Weeds grow quickly as temperatures rise, so tackle dandelions, chickweed, and groundsel before they spread.
- Hoe on dry days to disturb weed seedlings before they establish.
✅ Check for Early Pests
- Watch for aphids, slugs, and vine weevils on emerging plants.
- Consider biological controls (nematodes, ladybirds, companion planting) if needed.
✅ Apply a Spring Pest Barrier
- Protect new shoots from slugs and snails with eco-friendly deterrents like copper tape, wool pellets, or crushed eggshells.
🌱 Tip: Encourage natural predators by leaving wild areas and providing bird feeders.
6. Support Wildlife & Pollinators
✅ Feed the Birds
- Keep feeders topped up with seeds, suet, and mealworms as birds start nesting.
- Provide clean water for drinking and bathing.
✅ Install Nesting Boxes
- Place bird boxes in sheltered locations before nesting season begins.
✅ Plant for Pollinators
- Choose bee-friendly flowers like crocuses, lungwort, and primroses.
🌱 Tip: Let a few dandelions bloom before mowing—bees rely on them as an early nectar source.
7. Prepare Your Greenhouse & Tools
✅ Spring Clean Your Greenhouse
- Disinfect benches, pots, and trays to prevent disease spread.
- Check ventilation and replace broken glass panels or shading material.
✅ Service Your Garden Tools
- Sharpen shears, secateurs, and mower blades.
- Check watering cans and hoses for leaks before they’re needed regularly.
8. Plan & Design Your Garden for the Year Ahead
✅ Order Summer Plants & Seeds
- Stock up on seeds, compost, and plug plants before peak demand.
✅ Sketch Out a Planting Plan
- Consider companion planting for vegetable patches.
- Plan new flower borders for a balanced, year-round display.
🌿 March is a great time to set the foundations for a productive and beautiful garden!
Book a Garden Maintenance Visit
Need help with hedge trimming, lawn care, pruning, or planting? Project Garden is here to help!
📞 Call 07795 800 772
📧 Email info@projectgarden.co.uk
🌿 Let’s get your garden ready for a fantastic spring!