Head of Horticulture blog: March 2025

With increasing daylight hours and milder temperatures, now is the perfect time to get outside and give your garden a head start. Here are some gardening tasks to tackle in March.

After a long winter, your soil will need some attention to get it ready for planting. Start by clearing away any remaining debris, such as dead leaves and weeds, to allow the soil to warm up. Digging over beds and incorporating organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, will improve soil structure and fertility. If you have heavy clay soil, adding grit or sand can enhance drainage.

March is a good time to prune certain shrubs and trees before the growing season fully begins. Cut back winter-flowering shrubs, such as Mahonia and winter Jasmine, after they have finished blooming. Deciduous grasses should also be trimmed back to make way for new growth. Roses can be pruned now to encourage healthy new shoots – remove any dead or diseased stems and shape the plant by cutting back to an outward-facing bud.

After weeks of storms, your garden may be littered with fallen branches, leaves, and wind-blown debris. Take advantage of calmer days to clear up, ensuring pests and diseases don’t take hold in damp, decaying matter.

Trim back ornamental grasses and perennials that have been left for winter interest, but be careful not to disturb new shoots pushing through the soil. Compost any healthy plant material, but discard anything showing signs of disease to prevent spreading issues later in the season.

Many flowers and vegetables can be sown in March, either under cover or directly into the soil, depending on the weather conditions. In a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill, start sowing tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines.

Hardy annuals like sweet peas and Cornflowers can be sown directly outdoors. If the soil is warm enough, you can begin sowing carrots, beetroot, and salad crops in the vegetable patch.

Snowdrops at Furzey Gardens

Lawns start to grow again in March, so now is the time for the first cut of the year. Set your mower blades to a higher setting for the first few cuts to avoid stressing the grass. Rake out moss and thatch, and apply a spring lawn feed to encourage healthy growth. In borders, remove weeds and apply a layer of mulch around plants to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

If perennials such as Hostas, Daylilies, or Asters have become overcrowded, March is a good time to divide them. Dig up the plant, carefully separate it into smaller sections, and replant them in new locations or share them with friends. This process rejuvenates plants and encourages better flowering.

With warmer temperatures, pests start to reappear. Keep an eye out for slugs and snails, which can damage young plants. Use organic methods such as beer traps, copper tape, or wildlife-friendly slug pellets. Late frosts are still a risk in March, so be prepared to protect tender plants with fleece or cloches when cold nights are forecast. 

Fruit trees, such as apple and pear, will benefit from a balanced fertiliser application this month. Mulching around the base with compost or well-rotted manure will help retain moisture and suppress weeds. If you grow strawberries, tidy up old leaves and mulch around the plants to protect emerging flowers from soil splashes.

Before the busiest gardening months arrive, take time to clean and maintain your tools. Sharpen secateurs, spades, and lawnmower blades to ensure they are in good working order. Clean pots and seed trays to prevent disease transmission, and check that watering cans and hoses are in good condition. 

March is the perfect time to plan for the year ahead. Sketch out planting schemes, order seeds and plants, and make notes on what worked well last year. If you have a greenhouse, organise seed trays, check heating systems, and ensure adequate ventilation for the coming months.

March is a busy yet rewarding month in the garden. By tackling these essential jobs now, you’ll set yourself up for a productive growing season. Whether you’re sowing seeds, pruning, or preparing the soil, taking action in early spring will ensure your garden flourishes in the months ahead. So put on your gardening gloves, grab your tools, and enjoy the fresh air while giving your garden the best possible start to the year.

Early flowering azalea

The warm sunny days at the beginning of the month have been a delight and the gardens are making the most of the glorious weather.

Daffodils are popping up all over the gardens whilst the buds on our magnolia, early flowering azalea and cornus collection are getting ready to begin their bountiful displays.

Elsewhere the tulips we planted on the top lawn in the autumn are poking through the ground ready to provide a welcoming display to visitors.

As the gardens wake up from winter, visitors can also take advantage of our week day offer in the tea rooms. Order a hot meal and claim a free tea or coffee for each meal purchased. The offer is valid Monday – Friday, state ‘Wake Up from Winter’ at the till to claim your free drink.

Get ready for the return of our Arty Eggs at Furzey Gardens this Easter. From Saturday 5 to Monday 21 April children are invited to discover 20 magical eggs around the garden, each one decorated by a local artist. There are seven new eggs for 2025, find all the eggs and claim an Easter treat at the end of the trail. Trail costs £3 per child, plus normal garden entrance donations apply.

The gardens and tea rooms are open 9.30am – 3.30pm until 31 March. From 1 April we will move to our summer opening times, 10am – 4pm. Dogs on a short lead are welcome until 31^st March. During our peak season and summer months we only allow assistance dogs on a lead.

I look forward to seeing you at the gardens soon.

This article originally appeared as the monthly In The Garden column in the Lymington Times, buy the paper on the second Friday of every month to read the next column first.