Six March Pruning Jobs Essential
Monty Don, the renowned gardening presenter, urges gardeners to prune six plant varieties in March—this practice is key for encouraging abundant flowering later in the season. Garden experts also recommend completing key lawn care tasks before the end of February, though it's not too late to catch up.
The first half of March is the ideal window for pruning shrubs and climbers that flower on new growth. This includes varieties like late-flowering clematis, buddleia, and roses. Pruning now encourages vigorous new shoots that will bear an abundance of flowers later in the season. For roses, the goal is to create a goblet shape by removing spindly branches and cutting the remaining framework down to about knee-high, just above an outward-facing bud. This practice not only shapes the plant but also promotes healthier growth and more prolific blooms on the strong new stems that emerge. Shrubs grown for their colorful winter stems, such as Cornus, Willow, and Sambucus, should also be cut back hard in early spring. This severe pruning, known as coppicing for some varieties, stimulates the growth of vibrant new shoots whose bark will provide a bright display the following winter. Hardy fuchsias also benefit from a March pruning, which should be done as new growth starts to appear. Gardeners should cut back the old, dead-looking stems to just above strong-looking buds near the base of the plant to encourage a fresh flush of shoots and a better flower display in the summer. The key principle for all March pruning is to always cut back to a side shoot or a leaf bud, which minimizes the risk of disease and dieback. Using sharp, clean secateurs is essential to make clean cuts that heal quickly, preventing infections that could harm the plant. Beyond pruning, March is a crucial time for lawn care. This includes mowing for the first time, but with the blades set high to just give the grass a light trim. It's also a good time to aerate compacted areas to improve drainage and overseed any bare patches to ensure a lush lawn for the summer.
