February brought a dizzying mix of weather – one hundred mile an hour winds (in some places) rain, mild conditions and then a cold snap. Traditionally March can be a dry month with low rainfall but can also bring cold north easterly winds. British Summer Time begins on Sunday 27th March – and the welcome lighter evenings arrive – then it will seem more like spring.
Although the trees are still dormant buds are more visible and new leaves will soon appear; there are other signs the garden is coming back into life. Birds are busy starting to build nests, their songs are more tuneful. Food is still scarce and so continue to provide a regular supply of seeds/fat balls.
It is time to revitalise window boxes and containers; top up with new compost and tidy the plants you want to keep. Seasonal additions such as woodland primrose and viola make a simple and pretty mix along with dwarf narcissus.
By March tree blossom is becoming widespread with Blackthorn and Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera); and as long as there are no frosts or cold winds, it should last into April. Magnolia is one of the loveliest spring flowering trees – there are many varieties but two of the most popular are M. soulangiana with its large upright pink blooms appearing before the leaves; the other is Magnolia stellata, a medium sized shrub/tree and ideal for a small garden. It has creamy, silky star shape flowers that are fragrant. It can be grown in a container for a few years and live happily on the balcony, patio or roof garden, it does best in rich soil. The best time to plant Magnolia stellata is during April; prices start at £10.99 for a small specimen in a 3L pot or for a more grown up one – a three foot plant in a 5L pot (costing around £29.99).
Work is now picking up in the garden – feed roses, trees, shrubs and hedging plants with a slow- release fertiliser; these are widely available at Garden Centres. Lightly fork the fertiliser into the soil around the plants. Deadhead hydrangeas before they come back into growth and cut to one third of last year’s growth. Prune winter Jasmine now it has finished flowering. March marks the start of the grass cutting year – the lawn edges will need tidying.
And for the arm chair gardener who does not yet want to venture outside – start a growing diary to plan and log your seed sowing. Order bedding plants and buy vegetable plug plants to save time.