Get Set…….Go

March is undoubtedly the start of the gardening year. The pace quickens; where one couldn't wait for the season to begin a month or two ago, it is finally here and accelerating. There are likely to be plant casualties in the garden, victims of a very interesting winter; others that are probably in a no-man's land so far, seemingly neither dead or alive. Give them another month or so as some could be late in recovering. On the other hand, it is an opportune moment to replace these plants with something more exciting perhaps. A visit to us will certainly get the inspirational juices going.

Top tip : When replacing an established shrub with a new one, it helps new plants if a dressing of Rootgrow is used. This is a concentration of naturally occurring beneficial mychorrizal fungi in the soil that helps with root development.

New this year are biodegradable pots which many of you have been asking for. Made by Botanico from bamboo, rice husks and straw, these can be used for two to three seasons before being composted. They look good too, having a mossy green colour. They come in popular sizes that will suit the raising of seeds and young plants.

In the Flower Garden

Have you noticed that the predominant colour of early spring is yellow and gold like the returning sun? The ubiquitous Forsythia , much maligned in some circles, provides the fanfare to the season. Their glorious golden flowers like sunbeams light up the garden and hedges; and with golden daffodils and golden leopard's bane (Doronicum), become a symphony of gold!

Early spring shrubs take centre stage. Camellias , early Rhododendrons, Ribes are the stars of the shrub border. That quintessential spring flower, the native primrose, peeps through its crown of leaves.

Top tip1 : If your garden looks slightly worse for wear and needs an instant pick-me-up, there are still plenty of winter/spring plants to fill beds,tubs, and containers. Select from a very large range of bulbs, from Narcissus Tete-a-tete to lily-of-the-valley; a mixture of grasses (e.g. Acorus or Carex ‘Evergold') with berried Skimmias, perhaps with Black Grass (Ophiopogon) together with golden Narcissi gives instant interest and colour. Primroses are at their best too; fill a container with them for instant impact, or plant them in large groups in beds for maximum effect.

Top tip 2 : Division and rejuvenation of herbaceous perennials should be completed this month. Dig up the clump, and either remove chunks off that have a number of healthy young shoots, or use two forks back-to-back to divide them.

Bulbs for summer can be started off now. There is plenty to choose from. Tuberous Begonias, for example, good in shade with their opulent and extravagant blooms should be started off indoors now. They give such good value in the summer garden, particularly in containers, as long as they fertilized and watered regularly. Others to consider are Lilies for summer scent, Dahlias for late summer colour, and Cannas and Agapanthus for that tropical touch. They can be started off indoors, then planted out in late spring.

Top tip 3 : Dahlias require free-draining soil. Plant them on a slight mound if your soil is too clay-ey.

Top tip 4 : Weeds are always the first to make the most of mild spells. Weed regularly before they get out of hand. If you are plagued by bindweed strangling your plants, train them away from them with canes. It will then be safe to apply a glyphosate-based herbicide like Roundup without affecting the rest of your plants.

Fruit Trees

There is increasing interest in growing one's own fruit; there is a fruit tree to suit everyone. Ranging from the usual apple, pear, or cherry to the more unusual like medlars, quinces and now, the members of the peach family (peach, apricots, nectarines). Whether it is grown in a pot on the patio or a larger one for the garden, it's all to do with the rootstock that the named variety is grafted on; please speak to one of our advisors for the right one.

With a warming climate generally, what were tender fruit trees can now be grown as a matter of course. Such fruit in the past could only be grown in the south of the country, Hampshire, Dorset etc. Top of the list must be members of the peach family with several cultivars available. There is nothing like biting into a sun-ripened sun-kissed peach straight off a tree. The late Geoffrey Smith, a past presenter of Gardeners' World did just that, and with peach juice running down his chin, turned to camera and declared ‘there's no way a shop-bought peach could ever taste like that, not in a million years'! Try it and see for yourself.

Top tip1 : If the leaves of your peaches and other members of the plum family are still in very tight bud, there is still time to spray with Dithane as a preventative against peach leaf curl. Alternatively, a temporary covering of polythene (with open sides for ventilation) will suffice to minimise this disease.

Top tip 2: Established fruit trees should be given a dressing of a high nitrogen feed like pelleted chicken manure following the dressing of Sulphate of Potash given last month.

Top tip 3: Citrus trees will need to switch their feed to that for the summer by the end of the month.

Grow to Eat

March is a busy time for raising seeds, most of them still indoors on sunny window-sills or in the greenhouse. Most seeds will be ready for sowing from the beginning of the month. If space is limited, Urban Garden Range selected by Kew Gardens are ideal to grow in small spaces. For organic seeds, the Duchy Originals Organic Range has quite a comprehensive range too.

Top tip 1 : Invest in a heated propagator to grow seeds really successfully and with confidence. Most seeds germinate with a temperature of about 15 C to 18C. Make sure that there is also sufficient ventilation available and is thermostatically controlled.

The ground is still unusually cold for this time of year, with the long winter we've had. However, by warming the soil one can begin to grow crops much earlier.

Top tip 2 : Use a Sun Tunnel or cloches to warm the soil to germination temperature. Botanico have a system of mini poly tunnels which are convenient to store too. They will also give much needed protection from late frosts and protection from pea moth or carrot root fly.

Weather permitting, a complete range of ready grown young plants should be available by the end of the month, except French and runner beans and sweet corn. These are ideal if only a few plants are required, or for folk who are new to this grow-to-eat movement, or those who are unable to raise their own plants.

Top tip 3 : If space is at a premium, consider growing strawberries and herbs vertically. Botanico have a range of three-tiered planters in their ‘Let's Grow' range that have generously-sized compartments.

Potatoes should be ready for planting out when the chitted shoots are about 6 cm tall. They should be planted in warm soil for best results. Plant early potatoes this month to crop in June; and maincrop potatoes in April to harvest from August.

Top tip 4 : If space is limited, there are Organic Grow Sacs, spud Bags and Potato Planters available to grow them in.

Tomatoes are easy and rewarding to grow for everyone, adults who are new to growing their own, and children. Select from cherry tomatoes (Gardener's Delight, Sungold), salad (old favourites Moneymaker, Ailsa Craig), or tumblers (Tumbling Tom, Gartenperle), the latter ideal for growing in hanging baskets, to name a few. Plant them in large pots (ideally about 30 cm across), or Growbags.

Top tip 5: Autumn Raspberries should be pruned to the ground by now as they fruit on the current year's growth.

Wildlife

Continue feeding birds, and leaving out nesting material. As mentioned last month, bits of wool, moss, animal fur and dried grasses are perfect nesting material. Bird numbers have fallen this winter; for example, the blue tit population has probably suffered a loss of some 90 % (75% in an average winter). So please give them a helping hand with good quality certified bird food like Gardman's nuts and seeds. As ever, fresh water every day is a top priority.

Top tip : If there is a little spare space in your garden or allotment, consider setting aside a small area to grow plants that attract wildlife in the form of beneficial insects and bees. Select from dog roses, teasels. Field scabious, honeysuckle, native primroses, wood anemone, eryngiums, foxgloves, hollyhocks, birds foot trefoil, evening primrose and greater knapweed. Also good for early in the year are bluebells (native) snakeshead fritillary and Solomon seals. For pond areas select marsh marigold, and flag irises.

Lawns

Depending on the weather, grass could be growing strongly by the end of the month and ready for their first cut with blades set high. Only do this when ground has dried out and safe to walk on without compacting it further.

Top tip : In view of the long winter we've had, it is advisable to spike and scarify the lawn this spring. This will give grass roots much needed air if it has been compacted. Heavy clay soils can be improved by spreading Claybreaker to improve texture of the soil. By the end of the month, weather permitting it will be possible to give your lawn its first feed of the season. Use Evergreen Complete which has fertiliser, moss killer and weedkiller combined. If there are bare patches appearing, these can be over-sown with Johnson's Quick Fix , or Miracle-gro Patch Magic , lawn repair kits that come with fertiliser and seeds combined. Alternatively, consider re-turfing which gives a more immediate effect. Turf is available to order from Sunshine.

Outdoor Living

Furniture for that summer of living outdoors are now on display and available. Select from the very best of them, like Alexander Rose, Gloster and Barlow Tyrie, or Harbo and Joanart . Apart from the classic teak or iroko hardwood ranges, the recently introduced polyethylene rattan weave gives a much softer feel to outdoor furniture. Indeed, they can be used as conservatory furniture and are reminiscent of the old colonial style. The bonus is that this material (polyethylene weave) can be left outdoors all year, cushions excepted.

It is also time to dress the garden as an extension to your indoor entertaining and living space as there can be sudden warm spells in March. Statuary, mobiles, wind- chimes, whirlygiggs and windmills to start with; then summery cushions for additional seating complemented by delightful outdoor crockery. There's plenty to inspire you in-store.

Don't forget to fire up that barbecue to take full advantage of fine days that might suddenly appear! Maybe it is time to invest in a new Weber barbecue or their Fireplace for the garden, the latter the nearest to a camp-fire. Lovely for cool evenings.

Indoor Plants

Continue re-potting indoor plants if necessary, and begin fertilizing those that don't require it. Any plant that has come to grief over the winter or past looking their best, it is a good time to discard them and start afresh. It's not good Feng shui! For those that are looking jaded, application of Miracle-gro Plant Reviver often works wonders.

Top tip : Orchids, particularly Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) that have been in the same growing medium for at least two years should be re-potted. A very open bark medium should be used. One of the best mediums available is ‘Cameleon', one used by the orchid nursery that grows our orchids. The best time to re-pot is after flowering, just as growth resumes. Do speak to Grace if you are unsure.

Bonsai

Continue re-potting indoor and outdoor bonsai and carrying out structural pruning before the sap rises. This is particularly valid with acers and conifers. Branch training with wires should be done now too; use a good quality alloy wire that is easy to handle. Please speak to Grace if you are unsure.

Carnivorous Plants

It's time to re-pot these too. A specialist growing medium completely free of nutrients may be obtained from us. Venus fly traps may start to flower; remove the flower bud that is at the tip of the stem and leave the rest for the chlorophyll it contains. Sarracenias that are fairly mature can be divided, and the older rhizomes discarded. For others, please speak to Grace.