March Gardening Tips

As the soil warms up, slugs will begin their annual banquet on fresh new growth. Nematodes are a simple, organic method of keeping them at bay - they are available online and they are more effective than any chemical treatment (which should be avoided at all costs!). Continue to remove any decaying foliage or leaf litter from borders, as this will give slugs an ideal place to hide out.

Sow beetroot, lettuces, spinach, chard and brassicas into plugs or peat pots under protection for planting out later.

Start off your cutting garden now buy sowing Sweet Peas, Cosmos, Cornflowers and Tobacco plants into plugs and small pots for planting out after the danger of frost has passed.

Ensure you have fleece on hand to protect seedlings and tender new growth from frost damage.

Sweet pea seedlings that have been sown earlier in the year will be putting on a growth spurt. Young plants will become stronger by pinching out the tips, which encourages side shoots and avoids plants becoming weak and leggy. It is still not too late to sow sweet peas under cover - choose a heavily scented old-fashioned variety such as 'Noel Sutton', 'Prince Edward of York' and 'Lord Nelson'.

Dahlia tubers can be planted in pots under cover. A large 2 or 3 litre sized pot is ideal for getting them going, potted up with a good, moist multi-purpose compost. Place them in a bright, frost free location and they will begin to sprout in two to three weeks. Avoid over-watering, as this will cause the tubers to rot. They can then be planted out into the garden once the danger of frost has passed (late May).

Cut down the old growth of perennials and grasses left over winter.

Prune shrub roses-remove all dead wood and crossing branches. Cut the rest back by at least a half, cutting just above an outward facing bud.