The showers of March are characteristic of this pivotal month, between the end of winter and the beginning of spring, with showers of heavy rain, hail, sleet and sleet. Do not rush to the garden, however, because fairly severe cold weather can still occur: these March showers just mark the gradual arrival of spring, so you will be able to gradually start your gardening activities more intensely.
The flowers develop more and more, the winter protections will be able to be gradually removed, and you will be able to indulge in the March prunings, reputed to be the best, according to the well-known adage.
Vegetable gardening in March
- Sowing lettuce, chicory, broad beans, cabbage, spinach, turnips, parsnips, red beets, radishes, celery, peas can be undertaken, just like leeks which you will transplant at the end of June for a harvest in the following autumn-winter.
- If you have a warm mini-greenhouse, the first tomato seedlings can be made. Aromatics such as basil, parsley, mint, rosemary, thyme, chives, will also be sown under cover.
- Potatoes can be put in the ground after a good smoking of this one.
- Also plant pink garlic and white onion.
- If you have artichokes, take the most beautiful carnations of the feet to transplant them and thus multiply the feet.
Gardening in the orchard in March
- If it is not too cold, prune the fruit trees and especially the vines.
- This is the last straight line for planting fruit trees which will need to be well watered to help recovery.
- On the other hand, it is time to plant shrubs with small red fruits: currants, raspberries, blackcurrants.
- Tie the branches of trellised fruit trees.
- Wait until the risk of frost has completely disappeared to graft the cherry trees into a split.
Gardening in the ornamental garden and flower beds in March
Seasonal flowers are pointing their noses and beginning to brighten up the garden: primroses, serviceberry, Japanese quince, prunus, mimosa, and of course the inevitable yellow forsythia heralding the arrival of spring!
- In the ornamental garden, remove and store winter protection.
- Put compost at the foot of the irises and peonies.
- Plant perennials as well as summer and fall flowering bulbs.
- Sow annuals, only under shelter: petunias, verbenas, sage, marigold, cosmos…
- For shrubs, prune all the hedges, as well as the deflowered camellia, the hibiscus, the buddleia, the wisteria… Also prune your last roses.
- Finish planting deciduous shrubs with bare roots, and evergreen shrubs in root balls.
- Treat the oleanders with Bordeaux mixture to avoid bacteriosis or pseudomonia which manifests itself by black spots.
March Moon
Take into account the March lunar calendar to check the work you can do in the garden, depending on the dates.
Visits and walks in the garden in March
Garden centers and nurseries are starting to get busy: choose your time slots to avoid crowds. The first fairs and other events around the garden are multiplying: consult the March garden calendar!