Gardening in March: What to do and what to plant?

With the promise of spring just around the corner, it’s time to get ready for the year ahead, here are some tasks you may want to add to your to-do list this month.

Things to do in your garden in March:

• Deadhead narcissi once the flowers have dried up, but leave the foliage intact to die down naturally
• Spring clean – Weed borders and mulch bare soil, scrub greenhouse glass inside and out, wash pots and containers, ready for seed-sowing
• Put up nesting boxes for birds – buy or make your own
• Feed fruit trees and bushes with organic fertiliser ready for the year ahead
• Plant onion sets, shallots and early potatoes when the weather starts to warm up.
• Start mowing the lawn on dry days, once the grass has started to grow, although make sure that you don’t cut it too short, or you may run the risk of the grass becoming stressed – put the cuttings on your compost heap
• Prepare seed beds by digging over soil, removing weeds and raking to get a fine tilth – regularly work cultivated soil with a hoe to keep annual weed seedlings at bay
• Prune roses and ensure the areas around their roots are free from weeds
• Dig up and split clumps of perennials and late winter bulbs that have become too big
• Trim lavender bushes before they start putting on spring growth
• Cut back plants grown for their colourful stems in the winter, such as willows and dogwoods
• Plant summer-flowering bulbs, such as lily, outside and bring on dahlias under cover until all threat of frost has passed
• When the weather starts to warm up sow annual flowers and wildflowers for a great display of colour and to provide nectar for butterflies and bees
• Start taking measures against slugs, which will be out looking for young shoots
• Add fresh compost to the tops of containers to maintain supplies of nutrients
• Keep an eye out for pot-bound plants, check for weevils and re-pot

What seeds to sow in your garden in March:

• In March, we continue to plant garlic, onion and shallot, but also asparagus and artichokes if not already done. The first sprouted potatoes can also be planted in areas where the risk of frost is less
• Plant strawberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, blueberries and currants

Did you manage to get all of your February tasks done? Maybe it’s good to make a start on your to-do list for April too…

Looking for more on gardening?

The climate in France is generally milder than the UK, allowing for a wider variety of plants to thrive. Many properties in France come with large gardens, providing ample space for various gardening activities. So if you’re looking for inspiration or information, take a look at our gardening page