March Gardening Jobs: 10 Things To Do In The Garden Now

1. Refresh Containers with Spring Colour

With spring a mere two and a half weeks away, the start of March is the ideal time to update your planters, pots and containers.

If you didn’t manage to give your stone planters a good clean before storing them away before winter, it’s best to do this now before you start planting. Simply remove any old soil and scrub with warm water, a soft bristle brush or sponge, and some non-toxic soap.

Now for the fun part! There’s plenty of colourful plants on sale at this time of year. Our favourite six colourful spring container plants include Tulips, Ranunculus, Heuchera, Dahlia, Hydrangea and Euonymus. Each will inject much-needed colour after the long winter.

When repotting, always replace old compost with fresh, nutrient-rich potting soil and ensure good drainage, and to keep plants healthy.

2. Prune and Tidy Shrubs and Perennials

March is the ideal time to prune winter-flowering shrubs and tidy up herbaceous perennials before new growth begins. Removing dead or damaged stems improves air circulation and prevents disease, ensuring healthier plants, so it’s well worth the effort.

Shrubs like lavender, buddleja, and mahonia benefit from shaping now, promoting bushier growth and abundant blooms. Cut back old wood to maintain structure and encourage fresh shoots.

Herbaceous perennials such as peonies, hostas, and sedums should be cleared of dead foliage to make way for new growth, and adding mulch will further support strong development.

By pruning and tidying your garden in March, you promote healthier plants, stronger blooms, and a stunning floral display in the months ahead.

3. Check and Maintain Water Features

If you have a garden water feature, fountain or pond, now is the time to check that everything is in working order.

Clear out leaves, algae, and debris that may have accumulated over winter, and clean any water feature accessories to ensure smooth operation. If the pump has been turned off during winter, test it to ensure it runs correctly.

Remember that we can still experience frosts in early March, so do not replace with water until any risk of hard frost has passed. For this reason, leaving a fountain protection cover over your water feature, and storing the pump in a frost-free location is a good idea until any threat of frost has passed.

It’s also worth investing on some PondClear, which will clear green murky water by bonding algae, and removing phosphates and heavy metals from the water.

4. Feed and Mulch Beds and Borders

March is a great time to give your garden a boost by adding organic matter to your borders.

Well-rotted manure, compost, or mulch will improve soil structure, suppress weeds, and provide nutrients for plants as they come back to life.

Applying a slow-release fertiliser to beds and around shrubs will also help plants thrive in the months ahead.

This is a great opportunity to start using all that beautifully-natural compost you may have been creating over the past few months. This is just one of our top tips for creating an environmentally-friendly garden.

5. Prepare the Lawn for Spring Growth

If the weather is mild, you can start preparing your lawn for the growing season.

Firstly, rake away any leaves and debris, and aerate compacted soil using a garden fork. This will improve drainage and allow oxygen to reach the roots.

Applying a spring lawn feed will encourage healthy growth and a lush green lawn in time for summer.

Now is also a great time to think about neatening up your garden edges. Cast stone lawn edging is a clever, attractive and extremely practical way to keep your lawn, pathways and flower beds neat and tidy all-year-round. Plus, it also helps make strimming and mowing the lawn that much easier, by providing a useful hard edge at act as a guide for mower wheels and strimming blades.

6. Inspect and Harvest Forced Rhubarb

If you have been forcing rhubarb by covering it with a pot or forcing jar, now is the time to check on its progress.

Tender pink stalks should be ready for harvest, offering a sweet, early-season treat perfect for crumbles, pies, and jams. Once harvesting is complete, allow the rhubarb crown to recover by removing the forcing cover and letting it grow naturally.

January to March is the best time to force rhubarb, and our stylish Rhubarb Forcer can be purchased year-round, so you’re ready for next time! We’ve even collated a handy guide to rhubarb forcing, which is ideal for novices and experienced gardeners alike.

7. Clean and Restore Stonework

After winter, cast stone planters, balustrade, statues and sundials may have developed moss, algae, or dirt.

Giving them a little TLC will help restore their beauty, and we recommend five ways to look after your Haddonstone Home and Garden designs, whatever the season.

8. Sow Seeds for Summer Blooms and Vegetables

March is a great time to start sowing seeds indoors, in a greenhouse, or even an orangery.

Summer-flowering annuals such as cosmos, marigolds, and sunflowers can be started now, ready for planting out once the risk of frost has passed.

In fact, right now is also the ideal time to start planting summer bulbs in containers.

If you’re growing vegetables, sow tomatoes, peppers, and early salad crops in seed trays to get a head start on the growing season.

9. Encourage Wildlife into the Garden

As nature wakes up, birds and pollinators will be seeking food and shelter.

There’s plenty of ways to look after your garden birds this winter, from cleaning out bird feeders and nesting boxes, to providing fresh water sources for visiting wildlife.

We also recommend giving your bird table and bird bath a good spring clean, and topping them up with some nutritious bird seed, and clean water.

Planting nectar-rich flowers such as hellebores, crocuses, and lungwort will attract wildlife into your garden including early bees and butterflies.

So, there’s plenty to do to support biodiversity in your garden.

10. Plan Ahead for the Growing Season

Finally, use March as an opportunity to plan your garden for the months ahead.

Consider new planting schemes, order summer bulbs, and make a list of jobs to tackle as the season progresses.

Taking time to plan now will ensure a thriving and beautiful garden throughout spring and summer.

By tackling these essential gardening jobs in March, you’ll set the stage for a vibrant and flourishing garden in the months to come.

Planters for spring and summer displays

Haddonstone’s wide range of cast stone designs work well in any garden setting, whatever time of year it may be.

Our friendly and experienced Home and Garden team are available to help you choose the perfect stonework for your outside space.

Request a call back with a member of our team and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible: