GARDENERS’ CORNER 

March is the first month of meteorological spring and although winter is (in theory) behind us and the sun is gaining in strength as day length increases, we could yet see snow and frost. The average maximum temperature for March is 10 °C. 

So what should we be doing in the garden in March? 

1. Sow seeds in your greenhouse or on window sills . It’s too cold to do this outdoors, but given plenty of light and gentle warmth, plants should grow well in readiness for planting out in late Spring. 

2. Prune roses. Cuts should be no more than 5mm (¼ in) above a bud and should slope downwards away from it, so that water drains from the bud. Cut to an outward-facing bud to encourage an open-centred shape. 

3. Apply fertiliser when there is a chance of rain to wash it in, Some plants –  especially fruit, vegetables and roses – need feeding. It is good practice to wait until the soil is dry enough to walk on, but while there is still the prospect of rainfall to wash the fertiliser into the ground. The faster growing the plant, the more it will benefit from fertiliser application. 

4. Prune evergreen shrubs so that they can make use of higher light levels and warmer air to produce new shoots and encourage root development.