A gardening guru has shared the “one thing” you should plant in March as green-fingered Brits across the nation prepare for spring.
As we edge closer to the warmer months, many of us are eagerly anticipating spending time in our gardens after enduring the long winter chill.However, it’s also a hectic period for those with a passion for plants.
Rob Brett, curator at RHS Hyde Hall, has reminded horticulture enthusiasts that there is “so much to do” in the spring and that it’s an excellent time to commence planting, urging people to seize the opportunity to kickstart their planting sequence.
But when it comes to deciding which spring plants to begin with, taking note of the month is vital. With March just around the corner, Rob has divulged his personal picks.
He said: “Choosing one thing to plant is a challenge as there is so much to do in a garden in spring. Spring is a great time to plant, so perhaps use early spring to plan your planting sequence.
“Depending on weather conditions, early March is the last time to plant bare-root trees and shrubs. March is also a great time to split and divide clumps of herbaceous plants and relocate them to areas around the garden (or, if not needed, give them to friends and neighbours),” reports Devon Live.
“March and April are also the time to plant many of our traditional vegetables early potatoes, onion sets and shallots, for example. If I had to choose one thing to plant in spring it would be summer flowering bulbs. We often neglect to think about this, as we concentrate on planting spring flowering bulbs in autumn.”
He further suggested that summer is an excellent season for planting “wonderful” plants like Gladiolus, with personal favourites being Nerine and Eucomis, known for their “pineapple flowering heads.”
The Royal Horticultural Society has also emphasised a variety of other tasks that gardeners should undertake this March, such as planting potatoes and managing overgrown perennials.
They also advised tackling other chores, including trimming herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses, arranging dahlia tubers, pruning buddleja, and mowing the lawn.
Rob added: “I would hope that people have been enjoying their gardens throughout the winter – they can become a beautiful visual statement and food for wildlife – but, if you are venturing out for the first time, take stock and see what’s looking good, what’s flowering and what needs cutting back.
“March using signals a time for cutting back herbaceous plants that have been left over winter, but March is also the time for pruning shrubs and climbing roses.”
