March is the month when you really see Spring beginning to gear up in the garden, but winter can still have the last word.
If the weather remains spring like, March can be the month to give you lawn a first cut. The first cut should be high and light, so lift your mower blades.
If you did not manage it last month, prune your roses. Technically, you should prune each stem down to an outward facing bud, but roses are tough and they will forgive a quick all over cut down if you are in a hurry. Also, deadhead hydrangeas, prune back buddleja, Cornus and Lavatera.
I find a walk around the garden at this time of year very useful to see what is happening and to put things right. For example if any plants have been ‘lifted’ by repeated heavy frosts and thaws, push them back in to protect their roots.
It is time to wage war against slugs and snails. Keep an eye out for them as they emerge from their nooks and crannies, collect and dispose of them at least 100 metres from your garden if you don’t want to have them back again.
The one thing in gardens I find that people tend to take for granted is their hedges. Sometimes clients will express concern at their poor appearance, and when I ask when they last fertilised their hedge they usually look very surprised. So, give the areas under your hedges a weed and apply a fertiliser, just before rain is due is best to allow the feed to get down to the hedge roots quickly. If it is dry, water the feed in.
On a good dry day, sweep the leaves and debris from your paved areas and give the areas a good wash. After last years very wet weather, many paved areas are looking green and dirty. If required, you can then apply some path weedkiller to areas of paving and gravel to keep ongoing maintenance low.
In dry spells water your containers and newly planted trees and shrubs.
Keep feeding the birds and check nesting boxes are ready for spring visitors.