Green-fingered Brits are being offered a list of gardening jobs they should get ahead of in March to prepare the garden for Spring.
Gardening experts at GardeningExpress.co.uk have put together a selection of gardening tasks to carry out over the coming weeks.
Jobs include planting summer bulbs, keeping on top of weeding and keeping slugs and snails at bay.
Other jobs involve cleaning the patio and reviving the lawn after the winter months.
Chris Bonnett from GardeningExpress.co.uk said: “Spring is just around the corner and if you want to have a gorgeous garden then you should start working on it now.
“The days are getting brighter and longer so it’s a perfect time to keep on top of weeds, prepare your soil and start nurturing your lawn.
“If you find there are still some cold snaps where you live then you may want to put off certain jobs like planting summer bulbs. There’s still plenty to get on with though, like cleaning your patio and tidying your lawn.”
GardeningExpress’ jobs for March:
Plant summer bulbs
As Spring settles in, the soil will be warming, making it a good time to plant bulbs so that they’re ready for summer, giving you a beautiful and bright garden for entertaining.
Keep on top of weeding
Unfortunately, as plants start to arrive in Spring, so do weeds. Weeds tend to germinate in the Spring so tackling them now means you may be able to prevent them from fully sprouting.
Keep slugs and snails at bay
As much as we love warm weather, so do slugs and snails so it’s best to take precautions now and start scattering slug and snail pellets before they ruin your garden.
Prepare the veg plot
If you’re hoping to grow some veg this year then now is a good time to prep and improve the soil. Most vegetables grow best in rich soil and you can enrich yours by adding things like bark, manure and grass clippings.
Plant rocket potatoes
Most potatoes will need planting in April but rocket potatoes can be planted earlier, towards the end of March, meaning they’ll be ready for harvest in June/July. Rocket potatoes are considered to be one of the better varieties of potatoes because they’re great for boiling.
Refresh pots
Perennials In pots will need some TLC. Take out the top layer of compost and replace it. This will give your plants a bit of a boost.
Plant onions
Another veg that you can get ready to plant in March is onions. Onions need fairly dry and warm soil and planting them in March will give you a nice harvest in the late summer or early autumn.
Grow strawberries
For those hoping to grow their own fruit this year, why not try growing strawberries? Planting now gives you a harvest around early summer. Strawberries are ripe and ready to harvest when they’re bright red, however, it’s worth noting that they don’t remain fresh for too long once ripe, so eat them sooner rather than later.
Don’t neglect the lawn
Tidy the edges of your lawn and prepare any new areas for sowing grass. Treat unwanted moss that has grown over the autumn and winter. To get rid of moss simply apply some moss killer or lawn sand.
Clean the patio
After the winter months, there’s probably a build-up of dirt and grime so the beginning of Spring is a good time to get this all cleaned. This can be done with a jet wash, or by mixing water and vinegar together and scrubbing with a garden broom.
