Gardener's Diary            March

Fifty ninth edition -  March 2006   

The last few days of February gave us an icy blast from the north, and is set to last for yet another week..  But the days are opening out and we have seen glimpses of the sun and felt it's warmth already.

Spring is just around the corner...

Have you a pond in your garden and do you or your neighbours have children visiting? Is your pond safe, or could a child fall in and drown or be seriously injured? Protect children and animals from falling in and your fish from heron attack, by fitting Safadeck pond safety grids, see here.

Pond owners might also like to think about having their ponds professionally cleaned and repaired this spring.. All ponds, at some time or another, need a good clean. Decomposing debris lies on the bottom of the pond. This releases ammonia, nitrite and nitrates into the water. When exposed in high levels, this can be harmful to your fish, and in some cases can prove fatal.

Dirty water spoils the look of the pond - your water should be clear so that you can see right to the bottom. Plants need to be kept in check so that they don`t become too overgrown. For a professional job, click here

Jobs for the garden in March

House plants

Increase watering and feed plants more frequently. Check root systems and re-pot into a larger pot if necessary. If the weather is warm enough stand larger specimens outside and give them a wash with the hose pipe on `fine spray`and let them dry before bringing them back inside. This is a job that can also be done in the summer on a rainy day. 

Lawns

March - April are good months for sowing or laying new lawns. Existing lawns should be swept and raked before mowing.  This is a good month to remove any build up of moss with an electric scarifier, which is an extremely satisfying job...   

Shrub borders and roses

If you didn`t do this task in February, turn over the borders with a fork to freshen them up and let air in - as the earth will have become compacted over winter - taking out any weeds at the same time. Cut out any dead or twiggy wood from rose bushes and shrubs. Prune roses and any shrubs, early summer and later flowering clematis hybrids, ornamental grape vines and wisteria, according to instructions in your gardening book.

This is the time of year to cut Dogwood shrubs right back to within a few inches of the ground, for a great display next winter.

Paths, walls and fencing

Do any necessary repairs before plant growth starts. Use a weedkiller such as Pathclear to kill grass and weeds on concrete areas for a whole season. Examine the supports for climbing plants and replace if necessary. Pressure clean paths or other ground areas that have become slippery with moss and algae. (Read instructions carefully on weedkiller packets if you have pets)

Greenhouse

Continue or start to sow summer bedding plants and tomatoes. Plants that you have stored over winter such as pelargoniums, (geraniums) fuchsias and tuberous begonias can now be started into growth and cuttings taken from the pelargoniums. Keep some gentle heat on in the greenhouse during the nights as frosts will still quickly kill your new seedlings. I usually start seeds off in the house and transfer them to the conservatory until May when it is safe to put them in my unheated greenhouse. They will tend to get leggy and lean towards the light, so will need turning every so often.. Why not give ready germinated seedlings a try, I can thoroughly recommend them!

Vegetables

Continue to sow successional crops such as salads and carrots. You don`t need a vegetable garden or allotment to enjoy home grown vegetables as they can be grown in amongst the flowers. In fact it helps to keep the aphids and carrot fly away if you plant vegetables amongst flowers such as marigolds, and I think it looks really nice to see vegetables and salad stuff dotted around the borders. Later on you could put a small wigwam of runner beans in, or even grow them in grow bags if you only have a patio  area.

Fruit

The first fortnight in March provides a final opportunity for fruit planting while the plants are still dormant. Before growth starts, do any late pruning of young plum trees according to your book, give them some fertiliser and protect blossom from frost with horticultural fleece.

Trees and shrubs

If there are any dead or diseased branches or twigs on new or existing trees, cut them out. Give a top dressing with a fertilizer and mulch. Check that the supports and ties for young trees are secure but not too tight, and won't rub against the trunk. This is a good time to make sure that new trees develop a good shape by cutting back any badly shaped branches. I pinch out the tips of new trees so they form a bushier shape... 

Water gardens  

If the weather is suitable for you to do a pond `spring clean` then take care not to disturb any mating frogs or toads.  If they haven`t yet paired off you can put them in a bucket and cover them until it`s time to put them back in the pond. The same goes for the fish. We put ours in a plastic plastering bath where they swim around quite happily until being returned to their pond. If you are re-lining a concrete pond take care to use the correct sealant afterwards, and give it ample time to dry.  It`s a little early in the year for buying aquatic plants. 

Wildlife

The birds are very busy this month pairing off and mating. If you are thinking of placing new nesting boxes, make sure they face North so the sun doesn`t shine into them. Clean out any old nesting boxes with a hand brush but not disinfectant or water. I always take some time out at this time of year to spend a few minutes in the garden, bird spotting and listening to their varied and tuneful songs. One of life`s little pleasures...

From plot to plate  (with the National Trust) From Plot to Plate is an exciting programme of workshops and events for adults and children, celebrating our local food in all its rich variety

Still with the National Trust, some of the most visited National Trust properties are now holding regular farmers' and food markets. Click here for details

RHS gardens

Their four flagship gardens not only provide year-round interest and offer a wide range of courses, talks and demonstrations, they also demonstrate the best gardening practices, new techniques and exciting new plants to try in your garden.

• Visit Wisley in Surrey
• Visit Rosemoor in Devon
• Visit Hyde Hall in Essex
• Visit Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire

Or go to their website for a diary of all other events at:-    http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/index.asp

RHS flower shows for 2006, see here

March RHS flower show, see below:-

Thompson & Morgan 

Visit  www.thompson-morgan.com where full information is available on their product varieties and orders can be taken on-line.  Have a look to see what is new and any special seasonal offers

Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB

Royal Botanic Gardens
Wakehurst Place
Ardingly
Nr Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH17 6TN