Jobs for March
March is a month full of energy – as the hours of daylight increase, the brown soil retreats, covered by the fresh foliage of emerging perennials woken from their winter slumber. It’s also a busy month for gardeners as we prepare for the growing season ahead. Every seed planted is an act of faith that better days lie ahead.
Prune roses – climbing and shrub roses should be pruned before St Patrick’s day. Remove dead, diseased or dying stems and those which are crossing. With climbing roses - tie in any new shoots and if it’s congested cut out some of the oldest branches. With shrub roses – create a balance frame work - shorten by a third to an outward facing bud.
Cornus and Willow – if you grow Cornus and Willow now is the time to cut it back to the ground so it will produce new coloured stems for winter interest.
Potatoes - time to get early potatoes in. You can grow them in the ground, in containers or in bags. Makes sure the soil or compost is enriched with well-rotted manure. It’s too late the chit –that’s the process of leaving them in the light to create shoots – but just pop them in anyway – they’ll be fine.
Weeds – keep on top of the weeds - if you get them early it will save you work later.
Seed sowing – a whole raft of veg and flower seeds need to go in this month so it’s time to get some in!
