March is an exciting time for gardeners as the first signs of spring begin to appear. After months of cold and dormancy, the soil starts to warm up, early flowers begin to bloom, and the days gradually become longer. This month is the perfect opportunity to prepare your garden for a successful growing season. However, knowing what to prioritize can be overwhelming, especially with unpredictable weather patterns.
To help you get started, this guide covers the essential tasks you should focus on in March to clean up your garden, prepare the soil, plant early crops, and set the stage for a thriving growing season.
Assess Your Garden After Winter
Before diving into planting and pruning, take some time to assess the condition of your garden after winter. The cold months may have caused damage to plants, garden structures, and soil. Walk through your garden and check for the following:
- Winter Damage: Look for broken branches on trees and shrubs that may need pruning.
- Soil Condition: Test your soil’s moisture and drainage. If the soil is too wet, avoid working it until it dries out slightly.
- Mulch and Debris: Clear away dead leaves, fallen branches, and old mulch that could harbor pests and diseases.
This initial inspection will assist you in identifying areas that require immediate attention, ensuring a successful start to the season.
Clean Up Garden Beds and Borders
Once you’ve assessed your garden, the next step is to clean up your planting beds. Remove any leftover debris from the previous season, such as dead plants, weeds, and unwanted seedlings. This prevents pests and diseases from lingering in your soil and helps create a fresh space for new growth.
If you used mulch over the winter to protect your plants, now is the time to rake off any excess layers to allow the soil to warm up. However, leave some mulch around delicate plants to protect them from late frosts.
For flower beds, cut back dead growth on perennials like lavender, salvia, and echinacea, encouraging new growth for the coming months.
Prepare and Improve Your Soil
Healthy soil is the foundation of a successful garden. March is an excellent time to revitalize your soil and ensure it has the nutrients needed to support plant growth.
Steps to Prepare Your Soil for Spring Planting:
- Loosen the Soil: Use a garden fork or tiller to break up compacted soil, improving aeration.
- Add Compost or Organic Matter: Mix in compost, aged manure, or leaf mold to enrich the soil with nutrients.
- Check and Adjust pH Levels: Test your soil’s pH and amend it if necessary by adding lime (to reduce acidity) or sulfur (to increase acidity).
- Apply a Layer of Mulch: Mulching helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
Proper soil preparation sets your plants up for success, leading to stronger roots and healthier growth throughout the season.
Plant Early Vegetables and Flowers
March is an excellent month to begin planting cold-hardy vegetables and flowers that can withstand cooler temperatures.
Vegetables to Plant in March:
Many early-season vegetables can be direct sown (planted straight into the ground) or started indoors for later transplanting.
- Leafy Greens: Spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, and kale
- Root Crops: Carrots, radishes, and beets
- Peas and Beans: Sugar snap peas and broad beans thrive in cool weather
- Onions and Garlic: If you didn’t plant them in fall, March is a good time to start
If you live in a colder climate, consider using row covers or cold frames to protect young seedlings from unexpected frosts.
Flowers to Plant in March:
For a beautiful spring and summer display, start hardy annuals and perennials in March. These flowers can either be sown directly into the ground or started indoors and transplanted once the weather warms up.
- Pansies and Violas: These flowers tolerate cooler temperatures and add early color.
- Sweet Peas: Soak seeds overnight before planting for faster germination.
- Snapdragons and Larkspur: These flowers thrive in cool conditions and bloom beautifully in late spring.
Starting plants early gives them a strong head start and ensures a longer flowering or harvesting period.
Prune Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials
Pruning is an essential garden task in March to encourage healthy growth and improve the overall appearance of your plants.
What to Prune in March:
- Fruit Trees: Apple, pear, and cherry trees benefit from late-winter pruning before new growth starts.
- Roses: Trim hybrid tea and floribunda roses to remove dead wood and encourage bushier growth.
- Deciduous Shrubs: Cut back overgrown or damaged branches to maintain shape and promote flowering.
- Perennials: Prune ornamental grasses, lavender, and other perennials that need tidying before spring.
Be sure to use sharp, clean pruning shears to prevent the spread of disease. Avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs, forsythia, and azaleas until after they bloom.
Start Seeds Indoors for Summer Crops
If you want to grow warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, March is the perfect time to start them indoors.
How to Start Seeds Indoors:
- Use seed trays or small pots with good drainage.
- Fill with a light, well-draining seed-starting mix (not regular garden soil).
- Plant seeds at the recommended depth (check the seed packet).
- Keep trays in a warm, sunny spot or use grow lights for at least 12-16 hours a day.
- Water lightly to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Starting seeds indoors extends your growing season and ensures that your plants are ready to transplant once outdoor conditions improve.
Care for Your Lawn and Outdoor Spaces
March is also the time to wake up your lawn and prepare your outdoor space for the warmer months. If your lawn looks patchy after winter, lightly rake to remove debris and overseed any bare spots with grass seed. Apply a slow-release fertilizer to encourage healthy regrowth.
For patios and outdoor furniture, give everything a good cleaning and check for any winter damage. This will make it easier to enjoy your garden once warmer days arrive.
Final Thoughts
March is one of the most important months for garden preparation, setting the foundation for a successful growing season. By cleaning up your garden, preparing the soil, planting early crops, pruning, and starting seeds indoors, you’ll be well on your way to a lush, productive space in the months ahead.
As the weather continues to warm, you’ll have even more opportunities to plant and nurture your garden. What’s on your March gardening to-do list? Visit your local garden centre to grab supplies and start preparing for a beautiful spring season! 🌱🌸