What to do in March in your garden?

With the arrival of spring, numerous gardening tasks await. Here are my top 5 gardening activities for March.

1. Prune Cornus and Salix to retain colourful stems

Cornus sanguinea in my E11 Woodland Garden

To maintain the vibrant stem color, cut back Cornus and Salix shrubs to 5-7cm above the ground. This process should be done annually or every few years for slower-growing varieties like 'Mid Winter Fire'.

2. Check tree ties

   

   Amelanchier lamarkii in my N12 Dog Friendly Garden

   Ensure that the tree stakes and ties are not causing abrasion and make adjustments as needed. The stakes should be taken out after a few years, once the tree is well-established.

3. Cut back Winter Jasmine

Jasminium nudiflorum in my E10 Tall & Fragrant planting design

Trim Jasminium nudiflorum by cutting back 20% of the older stems to the ground and cutting flowered stems back to robust young shoots lower on the stem.

4. Plant out new Roses, Shrubs and Climbers

   

   Rose de Feligonde in my N12 Dog Friendly Garden

   Plant new roses, shrubs, and climbers to fill the spaces at the back of your borders.

5. Mulch

Newly mulched E11 Naturalistic Planting Design

Apply a 5cm layer of mulch around your plants, ensuring it doesn't touch the woody shrub stems, to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and enhance soil structure. Composted bark, mushroom compost, and leaf mold are excellent choices for mulching.

Happy Gardening!