By Alicia Paaso - Gardenscape Sales Team/RHS Level 2 Horticulturalist
Spring has Sprung! March is a truly wonderful month for spring beauty.
The subtle signs of spring have transformed into flowering spring bulbs all around, adding some desired colour to gardens. It is uplifting to experience the sunshine, flowering bulbs, primroses and cherry blossoms after the lengthy colder season. There are buds everywhere just waiting to burst open, bringing the natural landscape back to life. March is when the peak season for gardening begins, with plenty to do. I am excited for what March gardening has to offer!
As your garden transitions into its glorious spring display, you might have noticed that your lawn needs some care and attention. It is not
uncommon for the lawn to look a bit bleak at this time of the year. With less growing in winter and increased precipitation, the grass can look a bit yellow due to nitrogen leaching. Adding a granular lawn feed, such as spring and summer, will give the grass a much-needed nutrient boost. If you need to re-seed certain patches, we have small bags of grass seed that are ideal if you only need a small amount.
You can lay turf in March if the ground isn’t too wet. For optimum results, the turf needs to settle for a few weeks with minimum traffic to establish its roots. TS6 is an ideal topsoil for turfing and grass seeding, with an added compost element to support germination and growth. No matter if you are a lawn enthusiast, or someone who is looking to re-seed bare patches in your lawn; Gardenscape has got you sorted for your lawn products.
Both peppers and chillies need a long growing season to produce fruit, so by sowing their seeds in March you have the best chance at achieving successful crops. Sowing early has benefits like having a supply of flowers and vegetables for a larger part of the year. Seed and cutting compost is specifically formulated for growing from seed, with essential nutrients for seed germination. By sowing tomato seeds in March, you give them a better chance at ripening before the end of summer. Tomatoes need a minimum temperature of 10°C to germinate. If you are sowing tomatoes, it might be best to start growing them in a heated propagator depending on the weather forecast. At the end of month, a sunny windowsill should be warm enough to encourage germination. Make sure that the seed trays are covered to stop temperatures falling dramatically at night.
In spring, plants start putting on more growth. When plants grow, they need plenty of nutrients and water in the soil. A fertiliser such as Blood, fish and bone is ideal for giving the soil a nutrition boost. Simply sprinkle the fertiliser on your beds and borders or dig it into the compost. The nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium encourage healthy foliage, roots, and encourage fruits and flower production. Bark mulch is a great addition to your garden to support water retention in the soil. Not only does it aid water retention, but it also protects the soil structure, adds a decorative finish, and acts as a weed suppressant.
If you notice that some of your beds and borders have sunk over winter, add a layer of soil conditioner for improved structure and nutrient content. For topping up a new growing area, or for filling up new raised beds, our topsoil and soil conditioner mixes are a great option. Any areas that need added drainage might benefit from a mix with added perlite or grit. Alternatively for specialist areas, such as alpine gardens, we have many different professional growing media options to suit your specific needs.
Grab your gardening tools, plan this month’s gardening, and let’s start growing!