What to Do in the Garden in March
Living North's gardening expert Ross Pearson shares his advice on what needs to be done in the garden this month
March is different. March is believable. Meteorological spring begins now and the garden knows it. The light changes, the days stretch just enough to make you pause mid-afternoon and think, ‘hang on a minute’. The air feels softer, not warm exactly but no longer actively hostile. The soil smells alive rather than exhausted. Something has shifted and the garden is ready to talk again.
This is Mother Nature’s new year. This is when the real routines begin. Growth. Renewal. Optimism that does not feel wildly unrealistic. You step outside and the garden meets you halfway instead of slamming the door. And what a welcome it is!
Everywhere you look there are signs that your past self knew what they were doing. Your autumn-you deserves a heartfelt thank you. You crawled around the garden with cold hands planting bulbs with faith and mild resentment, and now, here they are. Daffodils nodding with cheer. Crocus opening like confetti. Chionodoxa sprinkling blue stars through the borders. Hyacinths swelling with scent. Scilla quietly filling gaps you had forgotten existed. It feels generous, almost indulgent. The garden is no longer asking for patience, it is finally offering rewards.
The hibernation is over. The excuses are gone. The garden is awake and so are we, so, what are we waiting for? It’s time to get cracking.
Narcissus
Daffodils are the mascots of spring. They are confident, unapologetically cheerful, turn up in numbers and make no effort to blend in. From the classic yellow trumpets to soft creams and pale pinks, Narcissus bring movement and brightness just when the garden needs it most. They sway in the breeze, catch the light and make even the dullest day feel improved. There is no subtlety here and none is required.
In my opinion, what makes Narcissus truly special is their unwavering reliability. They arrive on time, perform without fuss, forgive neglect, tolerate cold, rain and the occasional accidental football. Very few plants can boast that sort of a CV, earning them the deserved title of the most dependable gardener’s friend. Just make sure you can stomach the pong before inviting them indoors.
Planting
If you missed planting bulbs last autumn, make a note now. Narcissus prefer well drained soil and sun or light shade. They are excellent naturalisers and will happily spread if left undisturbed. Group them generously for impact. One daffodil is polite. Ten is optimistic. Fifty is a statement.
Care
After flowering, allow the leaves to die back naturally. Yes, they look untidy. Yes, it tests your patience. But the plant is storing energy for next year. Cut the flowers off once they fade but let the foliage finish its work. It is earning its keep.
Remove Winter Protection
As temperatures lift and growth accelerates, begin removing fleece and coverings. Do this gradually. Plants need to adjust and so do you. The garden looks instantly more alive once it can breathe properly again.
Prune Roses
March is prime time for rose pruning. Cut back to healthy outward facing buds and remove weak or crossing stems. Be brave - roses respond well to confidence. Afterwards feed them generously. You have just asked a lot of them.
Divide Overcrowded Perennials
If clumps of perennials look congested or tired, now is the moment to divide them. Lift carefully, split with a spade or hands and replant with fresh compost. It feels drastic but the results are always worth it. Plants like space just as much as people do.
Clean and Refill Water Features
Birds and insects are back on the move and water matters. Give bird baths and ponds a clean and top them up. The first time you see a bird splash about enthusiastically you will know it was worth the effort.
Mulch Borders
A layer of compost or well-rotted manure works wonders. It feeds the soil, suppresses weeds and makes everything look cared for even if the rest of the garden is still waking up. It is one of the most satisfying jobs of the season.
Sow Hardy Annuals Outdoors
Sweet peas, calendula, cornflowers and larkspur can all be sown now if the soil is workable. These early sowings give you strong plants that cope well later on. It feels thrilling to sow directly into the ground again.
Check for Frost Damage
March can still surprise you. Inspect plants for damage and remove affected growth. Do not panic. Most plants recover quickly once the weather settles. Gardening is about patience and gentle corrections, not perfection.
Install Supports Early
Put canes and frames in place now before plants need them. It saves wrestling later and avoids accidental damage. The allotment feels organised and optimistic when supports stand ready.
Sow Early Vegetables
Parsnips, carrots, beetroot and spinach can be sown now if conditions allow. Choose a fine day and take your time. There is something grounding about standing in a quiet plot sowing seeds into hopeful soil.
Plant Onion Sets
Onion sets are wonderfully straightforward. Don’t push them gently into the soil or the root plate will become damaged and die before it’s even started. Make a small hole with a dibber and plant each set so the tip is visible above ground. They rarely disappoint and make you feel extremely competent.
Prepare Seed Beds Properly
March is when preparation pays off. Remove stones. Rake finely. Level carefully. A good seed bed makes everything easier later. It is effort now for ease later which is the best kind of trade.
Start Potting Up Seedlings
Those seedlings started earlier indoors will be ready for more space. Pot them on gently and give them light and air. Watching them grow sturdier by the day is deeply satisfying and acts as a visual countdown timer to the warmer end of spring.
Weed While They Are Small
Weeds are starting to wake up; deal with them now while they are manageable. A little effort regularly prevents battles later. It is one of gardening’s few genuinely helpful truths. A sharp hoe on a sunny day will do the trick nicely.
Enjoy Being There Again
This might be the most important task. Spend time on the allotment without rushing. Notice what is working, notice what is not. March is about re-connection as much as productivity.
March is the month where we gardeners re-emerge blinking into the daylight, slightly stiff, but full of enthusiasm. We step outside and immediately start making cheerful plans that involve far more energy than we actually possess. But that does not matter because the garden is finally playing along.
Everything feels possible again. We potter about moving things, tidying bits, planting here and there and the garden responds almost instantly. Shoots appear. Leaves unfurl. Flowers pop up exactly where we hoped they would. It is incredibly validating. We start to feel like we know what we are doing again. March is generous like that. It rewards even the smallest effort. Five minutes outside turns into half an hour of wandering. Half an hour turns into standing still admiring a clump of flowers we planted months ago and had completely forgotten about. It is the gardening equivalent of finding money in a pocket you were sure was empty.
This is the month to enjoy the feeling that you and the garden are back on speaking terms. There will be chaos later. There will be weeds. There will be moments of confusion and mild panic. But not yet. For now, it is all promise and pleasure. And that is exactly how March likes it.
