The first month of spring has arrived. Outside, everything is slowly turning green again, and the days are getting longer. There's nothing better than being outside and preparing the garden for the outdoor season. But be warned; the old saying 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb' has often proven true in recent years. The weather can be sunny with warm temperatures, but severe frost is still possible. Therefore, don't be tempted to buy bedding plants that are already widely available. In March, there are plenty of other plants available to bring some colour and cheer to your garden. If you didn't have time to plant spring bulbs in autumn, now is the time to buy pre-grown Daffodils or Crocuses. Later in the month, many other spring bloomers will also become available, such as Hyacinths or Fritillaria!
Preparing the garden
You might have already started preparing your garden in February. You can simply continue with this. The great thing about early spring is that everything still grows slowly, giving you plenty of time. So, continue removing emerging weeds. The weeds are still small now, making them easy to pull out of the ground with their small roots.
You can also continue to improve the soil. If you haven't yet applied a layer of compost to all your borders and containers, now is the time to finish this. Especially if you use organic fertilisers for your garden, it's wise to do this early in the year. Organic fertiliser takes longer to break down into the soil. The advantage over chemical fertilisers is that the plant receives nutrients over a much longer period, allowing it to grow more steadily into a strong, mature plant.
Making plans for the rest of the year
During March, the first shoots of perennial plants will also start to emerge. This allows you to see what has survived the winter and where new plants are needed. March is the last month when bare-root perennial plants can still be planted, and it's also time to start planting summer bulbs. So, take time this month to think about which plants and bulbs you want to enjoy this summer and order them directly online.
Perennials
Now is also the perfect time to remove all remains from the previous season. Cut away all stems and leaves that were still on the plants to make enough space for new shoots.
Also, get out all the support material again. Since all plants are still low to the ground, it's easy to set up support material if you have plants that need it. This doesn't have to be expensive; simple bamboo stakes can go a long way. It's smart to set this up this coming month to support your plant from the beginning and not wait until it starts to droop. Peonies are an example of this. By setting up the support material early, the plant can grow well along or through it. The preparatory work will certainly be rewarded in June with the most beautiful flowers!
