Gardening Advice for March
It’s time to spring into action with Donna Turner’s top 10 gardening tasks for March.
1. Border prep
Firstly, your borders will need prepping if you didn’t do it in autumn. Dig through the soil and remove any pesky weeds. Next, mulch with a coarse-grade compost to improve the soil and lock in moisture. It’s worth putting in a bit of effort now as it will make a big difference to your plants in the season ahead.
2. Colour trends
There are some bold and exciting new colours trending in 2026. We’re seeing lots of tranquil blues and soft greens with dazzling pops of reds to add a dramatic contrast. It’s never too early to start planning your flower beds and it’s a great way to ward off the winter blues!
3. Think vertically
If you’re struggling for space the good news is that vertical gardens. There’s a great range of planters on the market that are specifically designed to make use of vertical outdoor spaces. From traditional pots and hanging baskets to shelving, trellis and living walls, there’s no reason to put up with an empty balcony or boring wall.
4. Out with the old
One of the key jobs for March is to prune any shrubs and climbers that will flower on new growth. A hard cut back of shrubs such as dogwood, willow and ornamental bramble will promote growth for the season. Deciduous grasses will also need cutting back to ensure they look their best.
5. Pest control
Depending on the weather, which can be temperamental in March, check tender shoots for aphids. If you clean them off now with hot soapy water you hopefully won’t need to use insecticides. It’s always best to catch them early!
6. Helping hand
There’s a real focus on wildlife-friendly gardens at the moment and there’s so much you can do to help out. Right now think about growing early flowering plants like bluebells and rhododendrons for the bees. Maybe install a hedgehog home, an insect hotel or a bird house. Also think about a wildlife hedge in place of a fence. Cotoneaster or Pyracantha are both great options.
7. Divide and move
Now is the best time to divide herbaceous perennials that have outgrown their allotted space, or those that have developed woody centres and need reinvigorating. It’s a great way to get new plants for free to plug gaps elsewhere in your borders. Also take this opportunity to move plants if you’re not happy with where they are.
8. Container care
Trees and shrubs growing in containers don’t need to be repotted every spring, but over time the compost can become depleted. One way to remedy this is to apply a feed and the other is to dress the container in the spring. To do this simply remove the top 5-7cms of compost and top it up with fresh compost.
9. Take a moment
March is the month when we start to reap the benefits of our autumn planting. The garden is slowly coming back to life. Don’t forget in the rush to get jobs done to take time to enjoy the magical show of spring colour.
Feature plant
Rhododendron
Rhododendron Praecox is prized for its early spring blooms which brighten up the dull days of winter. This lovely shrub will produce an abundance of rose-purple blooms as early as February and throughout March. It’s a beautiful sight, especially when paired with a scattering of snowdrops.
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