Make the most of longer days to prepare your garden for the growing season. Its all systems go!
Get cracking and complete any jobs that had to be abandoned last month due to bad weather.
Evergreen Shrubs
Now is a good time to move evergreen shrubs such as Choisya, Hebe and Pittosporum. As the soil begins to warm up, roots will be able to re-establish quickly.
Most evergreen shrubs can be pruned just before growth starts in mid-spring. Delay pruning spring-flowering evergreen shrubs until after they have flowered, otherwise this year's display will be lost.
Cut out the top rosette of leaves from leggy stems of Mahonia x media cultivars to encourage branching.
Remove any reverted green shoots back to the main stem on hardy variegated evergreens, to prevent reversion taking over.
Deciduous Shrubs
Winter flowering Viburnums such as x bodnantense cultivars can be pruned now or when they have finished flowering. Cut out up to one in three of the oldest stems to the base.
The best time to prune shrubs grown for their stem colour such as Cornus (Dogwoods) is just as they come into growth in March to mid April. Known as coppicing, cut the stems of new specimens down to no more than 6 inches from the ground to achieve a stubby framework. This encourages new brightly coloured leafless stems for winter interest next year. You can do the same treatment with Salix (Willow). Then each year cut back to the previous years stubs. On old specimens that haven’t been pruned its best to cut out one in three stems each or every other year.
Delay pruning spring-flowering deciduous shrubs until after they have flowered, otherwise this year's display will be lost.
If you have deciduous shrubs that flower from July – October, you can prune these plants now if the weather is warming up. Examples that need regular pruning each year include Buddleja davidii, Caryopteris, Ceratostigma, Hibiscus, Hydrangea paniculata, Leycesteria, Lavatera, Perovskia, hardy fuchsia, and deciduous Ceanothus species.
All of those lovely winter flowering plants like Skimmias, Sarcococcas, Lonicera purpusii, Hamamelis will finally be going over. Lightly trim any spent flowers and primp into shape where necessary.
Roses
March is the last and best time to plant bare root roses in heavy soils or in cold areas. Avoid planting in areas where roses were previously grown, otherwise new introductions may suffer from replant disease. However, if you dig out all the old soil and replace it, this should avoid the problem.
Many people prefer to leave their hybrid tea and floribunda rose pruning until spring. So, if you think that the frosts are over, prune with sharp secateurs or loppers so that you make good, clean cuts that heal quickly. Cut to an outward facing bud so that you encourage summer growth away from the centre.
Modern bush roses tend to be grafted onto vigorous stock so do not be shy about giving your rose quite a severe haircut. It will redouble its efforts for you as a consequence. Thin out the centre of the plant if it is looking too busy because the better the shape and the space within the plant, the better your display of flowers and the healthier the plant.
Grasses
Cut back ornamental deciduous grasses left for winter interest, if you have not already done so (such as Miscanthus), down to ground level before their active growth in spring. Evergreen grasses such as Stipa Gigantea do not need a complete prune, just pull away any dead material from among the better looking growth and remove last year’s oaty fronds. Pennisetum is a warm season grass and starts to grow later in spring so leave the trimming back until mid-April.
Dividing and cutting back Herbaceous Perennials
Cut off old leaves of hellebores that produce flowers from ground level (including Helleborus x hybridus and H. niger ) to expose the flowers and remove possible foliar diseases such as hellebore leaf spot. Divide if required after flowering.
Continue to divide bulbs-in-the-green, such as snowdrops and winter aconites, if not done last month. Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials and those that are flowering poorly or have lost their shape. Examples: Sedum, hardy geraniums, crocosmia, hemerocallis, agapanthus, rudbeckia and michaelmas daisies. Divide hostas before they come into leaf. Divide polyanthus-type primulas after flowering.
Once new growth appears on more tender plants such as verbena bonariensis, gaura lindheimeri and penstemons, cut back just above where the new growth sprouts from the base.
Caring for Daffodils
Deadhead Daffodils as the flower heads fade by cutting or pinching off the old flower head and the seed capsule behind the flower. This redirects energy back into the bulb, not the formation of seed.
Leave all the leaves on the plant. This allows photosynthesis to continue putting energy back into the bulb.
Do not tie leaves, plat or tidy them with a rubber band.
When the leaves start to yellow in 6 weeks or so, then it is safe to clear them. (If growing in turf normally around June)
Daffodils bloom well provided they are not short of water after flowering, so prevent the soil from drying out. Apply a high potassium feed such as tomato fertilizer to bulbs in containers and on poor sandy soils.
Lawns
As soon as you notice that your lawn is becoming a little shaggy start your regular mowing regime again. Keep the blades high to begin with. Little and often is recommended if you are to achieve a manicured lawn.
Take time to level out small bumps and dips. Cut through the uneven patch with an H- shaped cut, and peel back turf. Either remove excess soil or add soil, then firm down and replace turf.
Scarifying and removing the thatch and moss from your lawn is another job that is put off year after year. Set aside an afternoon to tackle it. It is immensely satisfying to see how much rubbish you remove from the lawn and it is good exercise to boot! Use a tined lawn rake if your lawn is small or hire a scarifyer for the weekend. A few weeks later with a little bit of feeding, your lawn will look quite changed (for the better!).
Miscellaneous
It’s good idea to mulch bare soil in borders with a thick layer of compost, this will improve the soil, keep down the weeds, as well as giving the plants a boost.
Top dress spring-flowering alpines with grit or gravel to show off the plants and to help prevent rotting around the neck.
Perennials putting on plenty of growth may need support. It is best to get supports in early, so that the plants grow up through them, covering them discreetly. Adding rigid supports afterwards usually looks unattractive and results in bunched stems lacking sufficient ventilation.
Protect new growth on lilies, delphiniums, hostas and any other plants affected, from slugs and snails.