Spring Gardening Expert Tips Released

The professional gardener highlighted bare-root trees and shrubs as a key planting task for March, noting it's often the last chance to do so while they are dormant. This period is also ideal for planting early potatoes, onion sets, and shallots. Beyond planting, March is a critical time for dividing and moving clumps of herbaceous plants. This not only helps manage their size and vigor but also provides an opportunity to fill in other areas of the garden or share with others. For those looking to sow seeds, hardy annuals like cornflowers and calendula can be sown directly outdoors as the soil begins to warm. Indoors, it's time to start tender favorites like cosmos, rudbeckia, and snapdragons to get a head start before planting them out later in the spring. Cool-season vegetables are also a focus for March. Seeds for lettuce, spinach, radishes, and peas can be sown directly in the garden in many regions. For warmer-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, March is the time to start seeds indoors to ensure they are ready for transplanting after the last frost. General garden preparation is crucial this month. This includes clearing beds of weeds and debris from the winter. It's also a good time to enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to provide essential nutrients for the growing season ahead. Pruning is another key activity. Roses, in particular, should be pruned in March to encourage strong new growth and abundant blooms. It's also a good time to prune summer-flowering shrubs that bloom on new wood. Finally, gardeners should inspect and maintain their tools, sharpening blades and making any necessary repairs to be ready for the busy season. Checking and adjusting irrigation systems is also recommended to ensure they are functioning properly for the warmer months.