MARCH GARDENING SCHEDULE (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

MARCH.GENERAL GARDENING MAINTENANCERepot: Azaleas into larger pots of ericaceous in spring, and position in shady spot for Xmas floweringMonitor: Young outdoor plants for wilting, which will occur is weather has been sunny and windy, which will dry them out. Dampen foliage with a fine sprayProtect: Young Hostas and Delphiniums from snails and slugs by creating a barrier of course grit or egg shells. Young Plants from frost with fleece.Mulch: Hedges with a deep layer of 3 and border, roses, shrubs and trees if not done already.Return: Hyacinths outside in used as indoor plants and give them a good feed for next year.Feed: Lawns with liquid fertilisers unless weather has been very cold.Cut: Lawn if weather has not been too coldTreat: Moss on lawns and rake out. Paving with weed killer. Greenhouse plants with Vine Weevil KillerHoe: Beds of weed seedlingsConstruct: Frames for tall perennials, such as lupins, chysanthemum, delphinium etc.Tidy: Lawn border edges.Bring in: Potted Fuchsias (to the home) Bags of compost (to the greenhouse)Clean: Greenhouse Glazing, pond filters and power wash patiosReplenish: Gravel around rock gardensPrepare: Soil if laying new turfCUTTING BACK/PRUNINGDead Head: Daffodils, preventing plants energy going into making seed, leave the leafs though, which help store energy. Winter PansiesPrune (Shears): Summer flowering heathers, but no lower than the first growth. Winter Growing Heather.Prune: Rose bushes, cutting back weaker growing plants harder than strong growing ones as this will encourage new growth. Use clean, sharp secateurs and cut back to a dormant, outward facing bud. Gooseberries, if not pruned in the Autumn , do them now by cutting back the main stems by a third and side shoots back to the third bud, making sure the cuts are just above the bud. Forsythia, Kerria and Broom once flowered (these flower on previous years growth). Any other perennials, including Penstemon. Clematis (Large Flowering Varieties) 1ft from the ground.Prune Hard: (Trees and Shrubs) Eucalyptus Gunnii, Pawlownia Tomentosa (Foxglove Tree), many Willow, Syringa (Lilac) 1/3 of all branches, Camellias, Hardy Fushcias, Honeysuckle, Hydrangeas, Yew and Cornus (Dogwood) - at base unless wanted for their colour, Buddleia and Sambucus(Elder) -at varying heights. Cotinus (Smoke Bush) Cutting hard promotes better leaves but no flower. Top heavy Ivy.Prune Hard: (Other) Caryopteris (at base), Shrubby Plumbago, Winter Jasmine (old wood and spindly stems)FRUIT AND VEGPlant Out: Potatoes (about six inches deep but be prepared to cover the area with a fleece if danger of frost) or in trays. Strawberry plant runners.Sow in garden: Asparagus crowns and seed now in drills 2in deep and spacing in the rows about 12in apart. Ensure soil is fertileBeetroot, to be planted in open sunny site. Plant in drills about 1in deep. Sow cultivars that are suitable for early sowing and which will not “bolt”. Lettuce in shallow drills no more than ¾ inch deep to get first crops in around ten weeks. Sow sparingly but regularly to achieve a good continuous supply of plants through the spring and summer. Hardy herbs such as parsley, fennel, chives and coriander can be sown outside. Sow them in drills, as for vegetables, and place in their final destination once large enough to handle. Jerusalem Artichokes.Sow in cool greenhouse: tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. Propagator at 21c to help them germinate and pot them up individually when large enough to handle. Onion and Shallot sets, ready for planting out in April.Sow under glass/cloche/cold frame: Basil at min temperature of 13c. Prick out into tray and slowly harden off. Plant out when all risk of frost has gone. Alpine strawberries under glass, to be planted out in the garden in may where the plant makes an attractive border plant as well as producing fruit. Carrots, beetroot, broad beans, Celery, dwarf French beans, cauliflowers, cabbages, sprouts, spinach, leeks, lettuces, turnips, peas, kohl rabi, salad onions, sprouts, radish, parsnips and spinachSow in Heated Greenhouse: Cucumbers, leeks, cauliflowers, celery, celeriac, tomatoes, capsicums, chilles, okra and melons..Pick: Rhubarb - not too much 1/3rd.Feed: Fruit trees and shrubs.Apply Netting: To fruit trees to deter birdsSpray: Copper Fungicide over Peach and Nectarine trees to prevent leaf curl.Buy: Herbs to sow in potsSOWING PLANTING PROPAGATIONPlant Seeds: Dahlia in good seed compost and keep them at root temperature of around 18c. Once germinated, prick out into seed boxes or individual pots. Aquilegia, Delphinium, Eryngium and Oriental Poppies – Applying gentle heat and the seeds should germinate within three weeds and make substantial plants by the Autumn – ready to flower next yearPlant in Containers: Roses using soil-based composts such as John Innes No.3 rather than soil-less media. Which holds key nutrients and requires less wateringPrepare: Ground for planting evergreen hedges in April, ensuring all perennial weeds are removedPropagate Cuttings: Chrysanthemums by removing developing shoots, trim them and place in pots or trays of a sandy compost to root under cover. Delphinium and Michaelmas daisy cuttings which should be in growth now if they were brought into the greenhouse in JanDahlias forced into growth last month should be ready for cuttings. Taking around three weeks to root and then grown on in individual pots.Plant in Greenhouse: PelargoniumsPlant out in Garden: Sweet peas and Hardy Annuals sown in October can be planted out as long as weather is not too cold or hot. First, however, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions by placing their pots outside on warmer days and taking back inside at night.Move Half-Hardy seedlings that were pricked out last month should be strong enough to move to a cold frame with sacking if frost is forecast. Primulas and Primroses under trees. Nerines, Achimenes, Eucomis and GloriosaPlant out in Pots: Lily Bulbs, Gastonia, Canna, Eucomis,Tuberous Begonias, Hedychium, Acidanthera and Gloxinia in greenhouse to force early growth.Divide: Congested and clumpy perennials such as hosta, Eucomis and snowdrops (when not dormant)Sow: Green manures crimson clover, fenugreek, field lupinsPropagate by Layering: Forsythias, Philadelphus and Hydrangeas by layering. Within a year, the new shrub should have rooted and ready to be detached from the parent plant and sited elsewhere.