March
Narcissus best seller.
What a wonderful time of year this is! Crocus and daffodil bulbs, hellebores and sweet scented daphne are providing much of the colour at present and they will soon be joined by primroses, primula, polyanthus and camellia - incredible after all that snow and ice.
Our Gardeneers have been out and about doing the first cuts of the year to level the growth of the grass and put some stripes down on lawns. The garden always looks a lot tidier once the stripes are back!
Wintry winds may have caused structural damage to fence posts, panels, pergolas and sheds. If there is any damage, get it fixed quickly before the climbers grow too big and make the job even more difficult. Call Gardeneer because we can help with this.
If you have not yet had a chance to get the garden ready for the season - call Gardeneer and let their team come and tidy up for you. You can also ask Gardeneer for a gardener to start regular maintenance for your garden - available to suit you and your needs!
Dreaming of summer evenings sitting out in the garden? Seems a little remote at the moment doesn't it. No problem if you don't have a patio - Gardeneer can design one just for you.
TIPS
March is a great time to repair bald patches of lawn; this can be done by seeding or replacing with ready grown turf.
Early pruning is also being completed with a final cut to the roses, reducing the buddleia and thinning and mophead removal of hydrangea. Later in the month we will cut back the dogwood so that it will produce colourful shoots next winter.
Summer flowering bulbs such as gladioli and crocosmia can be planted later in the month. If you stagger the time of planting over a few weeks, you will be able to enjoy a longer flowering period.
Herbaceous perennials should be lifted and divided now, if necessary. Lift crowns and prise apart with forks, taking care not to damage the newly forming buds and shoots. Break off small sections from around the edge of the clump and discard the centre section. Replant and firm in. This is also a good time to move them around. An old wives' tale suggests a very high rate of success if you use the following method: dig a new hole ready for the plant, ensure it is good and moist - then dig up the plant you want to move, plant it in the new location and firm it in. If you move it quickly enough it won't even notice what you have done.
Summer flowering bulbs such as gladioli and crocosmia can be planted later in the month. If you stagger the time of planting over a few weeks, you will be able to enjoy a longer flowering period throughout summer.
Potted hyacinths and narcissi should be removed to a cool place such as a shed window until they die down. Alternatively, plunge the pots in a cold frame.
Start successional sowings outdoors of carrots, brussels sprouts, parsnips, radishes, summer spinach, broad beans and parsley.
Where practical, daffodils and narcissi should be deadheaded to avoid diverting energy from the bulb.
Buddleia davidii and its cultivars should be hard pruned now. Aim for an even, open framework of older wood, on which each year's wands can grow.
Give cacti their first good watering after winter dormancy. Re-pot if necessary.
Strawberries will appreciate a liberal application of good compost or well-rotted manure. Make sure new fruit trees on walls have plenty of water in a dry year.
Watch out for slug damage to the young shoots of early perennials and trap or poison as preferred. Slugs love a drop of beer!
Plants to look for in March
Crocus, Daffodil, Cyclamen, Daphne, Primula, Chanomeles (Quince), Forsythia
