March
This lockdown has gone on and on, not helped by the short days and lack of light, but by the end of this month we will hopefully be able to meet outside in groups of six again which will be a joy! With winter almost officially behind us the days are thankfully so much longer than they were back in January and the mild temperatures are beckoning us back outdoors again as the garden awakens.
The spring bulbs have provided some much needed colour in the garden and the tulips are still to come! The spring sowing madness is nearly upon us so now is a great time to get prepared. There's still time to wash pots and seed trays, clean the greenhouse and make sure you have enough compost!
There is still a risk of frost so keep tender plants under cover and keep an eye on the forecast! So enjoy the milder days out in the garden and here are some ideas of what you could be doing this month:
What to do in the garden this month:
Sow/Plant:
Sow hardy annuals under cover
Sow courgettes, leeks, peas, beetroot under cover
Sow broad beans direct
Order dahlias and pot up and keep under cover
Pinch out autumn sown sweet pea tips
Sow tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and aubergines in a propagator
Start chitting early potatoes and plant out at the end of the month
Mulch asparagus and artichokes
Divide perennials
Plant trees and fruit bushes
Plant summer flowering bulbs
Plant asparagus crowns
Prepare beds and borders
Lift and divide snowdrops
Harvest/pick:
Iris, hyacinths, early tulips, daffodils
Leeks, kale, cabbage, chard, spinach
Secature/lopper jobs:
Deadhead daffodils
Prune cornus (dogwoods at the end of the month) and pot up the cuttings
Prune winter flowering jasmine after flowering
Prune fuchsia, buddlias and decidous grasses
Cut back old perennial growth
Prune shrub roses
Deadhead hydrangeas
Lawns and ponds:
Mow when the grass starts growing but
not too short!