Judy's Garden Calendar March
Autumn – the best season for gardening – is here at last!
Flowers to sow in March
Pansies and their viola relatives can be sown
now. Seedlings can take some time to emerge,
so make sure the seeds don’t dry out during the
germination period. Modern pansies like Yates
Joker Mix will bloom right through late winter
and into spring, especially if dead flowers are
removed and the plants fed regularly with
Thrive Flower & Fruit.
Vegies to sow in March
March is the month for sowing root vegies such
as beetroot, carrots, parsnips,
radishes and turnips. None of these vegies
responds well to being transplanted, so they’ll
all get the best start if they’re sown direct into
garden beds. Beginners might like to try the
Yates easy-sow seed tapes that are available
for beetroot and carrots.
Feed in March
Young vegies need to make as much growth as
possible before the cold weather, so feed at
least once a fortnight with Thrive Soluble or
Nitrosol.
Prune in March
Cut back raspberry canes that have fruited over summer.
Split up and re-plant clumps of perennials such
as violets and bergenias. Old woody root
sections should be trimmed off and discarded.
Do the same for perennial herbs such as lemon
balm and lovage.
March pest watch
The cooler, moister conditions of autumn are
ideal for snails and slugs. Young seedlings are
the most vulnerable. Tasty young lettuce, for
example, can be eaten overnight.
Protect at-risk plants with a light sprinkling of
Blitzem or Baysol pellets. These both contain a
bitter-tasting additive that helps prevent
accidental consumption by pets but this doesn’t
always work. Hence, pet owners also have the
option of choosing Blitzem Granules. These
tiny chips don’t contain any pet-attracting cereal
bait so they’re a much safer option.
When it comes to solving other garden
problems, Yates Nature’s Way is a range of low
toxic insecticides and fungicides and fertilisers
that provide gentle, effective solutions. There’s
even a natural weedkiller (Nature’s Way
Greenscape)
March job file
If you’ve been holding off planting new shrubs
or trees, this is the month to get them in. As the
weather cools, the soil stays moist for longer –
but in most areas there’s still enough warmth to
encourage root growth.
Plant of the month – Roses
In March, roses have recovered from the
extremes of summer and are coming back into
full flower. Yates Rose Gun will protect rose
plants from pests and the fungal diseases that
can be rife at this time of year.
Follow Judy on Twitter
