March welcomes wonderful carpets of colour from spring perennials and bulbs bringing cheer to our gardens and faces in abundance. It is a month full of preparation for the new season and anticipation of all last year's hard work coming to fruition.  Grab those gloves, breathe in the fresh air and get sowing, pruning and renewing, but don't let those late frosts catch you out!

1. It's nearly Mother's Day and there is no greater gift than one that can bring joy year after year.  Whatever your budget we have something for you, from spring bulbs to blossom trees.  Click here for inspiration.  

2. Providing the weather isn't severely cold and frosty, now is the best time to prune bush and climbing roses.  Pruning will rejuvenate your plant and encourage lots of strong, healthy new growth.  Start by removing dead, weak and diseased stems, and then concentrate on crossing or rubbing stems.  By opening the centre of the plant, you'll promote good air flow and better health.  For further information, see our Rose Pruning Information Sheet.

3. Revitalise containers with some bright and cheerful colour.  Try combining spring bulbs, such as Narcissus, Anemone Blanda, Chionodoxa, Iris reticulata, and Fritillaria, with spring bedding and evergreens, such as Ferns, Grasses, Heuchera, Skimmia or spring heathers.

4. Maximise early colour and cheer in your garden by adding spring bulbs to borders and naturalise in grass areas  (purchased in the green) for fabulous displays this year and years to come.

5.  Get seed sowing.  There is no better feeling than sowing your own seeds, nurturing them and watching them grow from day to day.  We now stock a fantastic range of annual, perennial and vegetable seeds. Click here to view the full range.

4. If a dry period presents itself tackle those early weeds when they are small and easy to remove and give existing lawns a first mow on the highest setting.

5. Prune shrubs that flower on new stems such as Buddleja and Caryopteris to maintain shape and size and encourage healthy growth and maximum flowering.  They'll respond well to a hard pruning, so you can cut the older, woody stems to within 2-3 buds.  Follow with a slow release plant food and mulch.

6. Prune 1/2 or 1/3 of established colourful Cornus and Salix stems to the ground to promote new vibrant growth for dazzling displays later this year.  Repeat next year with the remaining stems.

7. It's a great time to start putting in stakes for perennials that need extra support for heavy flower heads, such as Paeonia, to prevent flopping and maximise enjoyment of the fabulous blooms.

8. If you have left last years blooms on your mophead hydrangeas, now is the time to deadhead and prune.  Cut just above the first pair of buds below each bloom and remove any weak or damaged branches.

9. Lift and divide older clumps of herbaceous perennials to encourage healthy growth and of course make new plants!  Do this approximately every 4 years for best results. Dig up the whole plant with as much root as possible, pull the clump apart using two forks back to back and replant the young healthy growth. 

10. Plant some charming Alpine pots for a fabulous spring display.  Click here for planting advice and plant ideas.

11. At the end of the month, top dress existing containers, removing about 2 inches of old compost and replacing with new compost and a sprinkling of fertiliser, such as Blood, Fish and Bone, PlantGrow Natural Fertiliser or Growmore. Fruit trees and Bushes will also enjoy a sprinkling!

12. Chit early potato tubers.  Old egg boxes are perfect for placing seed potatoes into.  Place them in a cool, light spot indoors for 4-6 weeks until they produce shoots around 2cm long.  Click here to view our range of seed potatoes.

13. Mulching around existing plants this time of year not only suppresses weed growth, but will help to retain moisture in the soil giving plants a helping hand in windy or dryer weather.  Pop down the plantery and pick up a few bags of our Mini bark chips for the best affects.

14. Treat yourself to a spring shrub or tree with sensational blooms, such as an Chaenomeles, Magnolia, Prunus or Ribes.  Click here for Spring Plant Inspiration.

      

16. Prune winter Jasmine after flowering has finished cutting a few of the oldest stems to the ground and reducing remaining stems to a strong young shoot.  This will tidy the shape, and encourage new healthy growth for better flowering displays next year.