Furniture
March
Key Tasks
Continue to sow half hardy annuals like Petunias, Nemesia, Nicotiana,
Phlox and towards the end of the month Marigolds, prick out those that have germinated.
Prune trees and shrubs at the beginning of the month.
The lawn may be needing its first cut this month.
Plant out Sweet Peas, lift, divide and plant perennials.
Hoe and weed beds and borders.
Plant summer flowering bulbs like Gladiolus, Anemone coronaria, Iris, Lilium and Eucomis.
Plant potatoes and earth up as required. If you don't have room in the garden to grow some early potatoes why not try growing a few in large pots?
You can still lay turf and it will be time to sow new lawns by the end of the month.
Finish planting bare rooted trees and shrubs.
Start Fuchsias into growth and take cuttings of tender bedding plants like Pelargoniums and Marguerites.
Lift and split polyanthus when they have finished flowering.
Plant onion sets 4" to 6" apart and 12" between rows.
Lawn Care
Mid month, rake up all the surface debris.
Roll, aerate and top dress the lawn.
Remove large stones and perennial weeds.
Worms are now active, and a worm killer should be used.
First cut with the mower blades set high.
Veg Care
Make second plantings of such quickly-maturing crops as turnips, mustard, radishes and "spring onions."
Thin plants when they are 2 to 3 inches tall to give the plants room to grow.
Carry out any February jobs not completed.
Treat seed before planting or buy treated seed for protection against seed-borne diseases, seed decay, seedling "damping off" and soil insects such as seed-corn maggots.
Early-planted crops may need a nitrogen side-dressing, particularly if the soil is cool. Place the fertilizer several inches to the side of the plants and water it in. A little fertilizer throughout the growing period is better than too much at one time.
Before settling them in the garden, harden-off transplants - place them in their containers outdoors in a sheltered place a few days ahead of planting them.
Get rows ready for "warm-season" vegetables to be planted during the last week of March or first week or two of April as weather permits.
You might want to risk planting out a few of the more tender crops and keeping them covered during bad weather.
Watch out for insects, especially cutworms, plant lice (aphids) and red spider mites.
Put down mulch between rows to control weeds.
Garden Focus
Living Focus
What's new?
Sat, 19th May
"Guess with Us" - put yourguessing prowess to the test, all in aid of MNDA. Nearest guess takes the loot!.
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Sat 26th May
Cotswold Gold will be in store for tasting and information
Thu, 31st May
Jubilee Scarecrow Competition Judging at 3.30pm. Come and support your school!.
