MARCH - BEST PRACTICES and TIPS for the FLOWERING GARDEN (and LAWNS)
Time to lift, divide, replant and propogate...
In cooler areas, large clumps of perennials that have finished flowering can be lifted, divided and replanted.
Take cuttings from favourite perennials and after dipping in rooting hormone powder or gel, plant into Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix.
Time to plant...
The flower garden can now be replanted with winter seedlings. For best winter colour, we recommend, polyanthus, primulas, pansies, poppies, stock and violas. They all love the cooler temperatures. Plant now to get them well established. Pansies and violas like being planted quite closely together. Feeding them wihth dried blood enhances colour and the amount of flowering for all winter colour.
Remember good preparation is the key to success - dig soil over, add compost and general garden fertilise before planting.
Freshen up hanging baskets with winter seedlings.
Plant up pots with autumn interest - use cyclamen, heuchera and other colourful seedlings.
Spring bulbs. Tulips plus all the other favourites including daffodils, freesias, crocus, and hyacinths will be instore. When planting in the garden give a side dressing of bulb food. If planting in pots use a bulb potting mix.
Anemone and ranunculus bulbs will germinate more easily if you chill the bulbs for 5-6 weeks in the fridge, then soak in water for 10-12 hours prior to planting.
Plant hyacinth bulbs in pots or in hyacinth jars. Leave to grow outdoors - if you have them inside they will become leggy and soft. Once the bulbs start to flower in spring, you can then bring them in to enjoy their colour and perfume in the house.
The first cyclamens will start to appear in store this month. If growing inside as an indoor plant over winter, remember to keep them in a well lit room with cool even temperatures.
Now is a great time to plant hedges. Planting a hedge is a great way to create a living fence and can deliver attractive privacy and structure to your garden, not to mention soften harsh fence lines.
It's also the perfect time to plant new trees, shrubs and perennials.
Time to sow...
Sweet Peas. Soak them overnight first to soften their hard skin, then plant the seeds directly into the ground. Traditionally, sweet peas are sown before St Patrick's Day on the 17th.
Other seeds to sow include;
Alyssum, aquilegia, bellis, calendula, candytuft, Canterbury bells, carnation, cornflower, delphinium, dianthus, forget-me-not, gypsophlia, hollyhock, larkspur, lobelia, pansy, polyanthus, poppy, primula, stock, viola and wallflowers.
Time to feed...
March is the perfect time to feed everything in the garden.
Feed roses now to help new wood harden off before winter.
A handful of dried blood around your polyanthus, primula, pansy, violas and cyclamen seedlings will do wonders for them. Water in well and wash off any product that lands on the plant foliage.
Existing bulbs in the garden. They will be starting to grow so give them a feed to encourage healthy blooms in Spring.
Buxus should be feed now.
Time to Control...
Pest and disease on roses. Continue your rose spraying program. Combat 3 in 1 for Roses is a good option to use at this time of the year.
Leafrollers and caterpillars. Spray with Yates Sucess Ultra or Mavrik to control.
Slugs and snails will still be around and dining out on hostas and other strappy-leafed plants. Use Quash or Blitzem to control.
Use Tree Health Bands to control Thrips etc on larger shrubs like Rhododendons which are too big to spray.
Spray Buxus with Buxus Blight Buster if necessary, and thin out foliage slightly to increase air movement and avoid fungal infection.
Time to prune...
Trim and deadhead ornamental trees and shrubs, then feed with a general fertiliser.
Cut hedges this month to allow new growth prior to winter - but don't cut when there is going to be a hot sunny day as you will sunburn the foliage that is exposed after trimming.
Stop deadheading roses now and let hips develop for winter colour.
Prune dead parts from lavender and rosemary, lightly prune the outside of the clump too but don't cut back as far as bare wood as they will not re-grow. Spread some lime around the base of the plants to encourage new growth prior to winter.
Hydrangeas
Mature hydrangea flowers dry well for winter floral use. Cut stems to a reasonable length and put them into a large vase or jug of water in a cool room. Leave them until the water has been absorbed.
Lawns
Dethatch and patch! Now is the ideal time to repair, renew or sow new lawns.
If there is a noticeably soggy layer under the green growth, hire a de-thatcher to remove it, then feed and water,, plus spray with copper if you have a fungus problem.
Use lawn soil on bare patches and sow with seed any time from now until the end of April.
Control weeds in lawns. We recommend using Kiwicare's Lawnpro Turfclean Ultra. It's fast-acting and controls the broadest range of weeds including hydrocotle and oxalis.
Mow lawns more regularly and feed with lawn food as the rain becomes more frequent. As the days cool, growth will slow so lift the mower blades and avoid watering in the evening to prevent lawn fungal disease taking hold.