Garden Blog

March is all about preparation and laying the groundwork for a lush, productive garden in the months ahead so grab your gloves and get growing!

It never fails to astonish me how the tiniest green shoots push through the soil each spring as if waiting all winter for their cue.

With the warmer weather we have been having, pests are on the increase in the garden, so it’s best to stay vigilant, take preventative measures early and protect young growth.

Using cloche covers is an effective solution and I have a variety of styles available in my garden shop to suit different needs.

Sow the seeds of success – tips for the month in the garden

• March is the perfect time to start sowing seeds like lettuce, spinach, carrots, leeks and peas.
• Indoors get tomatoes, herbs, peppers started and you can get dahlia tubers going in trays or pots of damp peat-free compost.
• Early Spring is a great time to divide overcrowded perennials like Hostas, Daylilies and Ornamental Grasses along with cutting back growth from perennials.
• Prune Buddleja to a low framework of stems to encourage new flowering growth. Don’t worry if you think you are cutting off new shoots higher up the stems, the low ones will shoot out and grow strong.
• If you haven’t planted bare root roses, get them in the ground now and finish pruning any existing roses and tidy shrubs to encourage healthy new shoots.
• Clear away any debris to give plants room to thrive, add a layer of mulch to suppress weeds and keep roots cosy as temperatures fluctuate.
• Enrich garden beds with compost or organic matter to replenish nutrients after winter.
• As new growth emerges keep an eye out for late frosts. Use cloches, fleece and mulch to protect young plants.

Out and About this Month

After a rather dull start to the month, we have also been blessed with some lovely warm sunshine and this has greatly encouraged many bulbs to flower and trees to blossom – our gardens have truly begun to feel and look, Spring like.

This month gave me the chance to wander two of my favourite places – from the charming elegance of Petersham Nurseries in Richmond upon Thames to the sweeping grandeur of Bodnant Gardens in North Wales. You couldn’t find two more contrasting spots yet each beautiful in its own unique way.

Petersham Nurseries is an oasis in the heart of a bustling capital, offering the serene charm of an Italian courtyard. With visual delights around every corner and delicious food to match, which is as satisfying as the surroundings.

Bodnant Gardens are one of my favourite National Trust gardens as the views are spectacular high up looking over Snowdonia across the Conwy valley.

With 80 acres to explore including shrub filled glades, dells and waterfalls, formal gardens, meadows and woods as well as being home to some wonderful plant collections including some magnificent trees, you can honestly spend days here!

One of the other good things about this garden for plant enthusiast is that, the gardeners have thoughtfully labelled each plant offering visitors a helpful guide to identity and learn about them and appreciate each variety.

While the weather remains on our side, there’s no better time to get out and embrace the changing season and with April just around the corner, there is so much to anticipate.

Next month, I’ll be visiting even more gardens as they open for the season – so be sure to follow my blog for more plant advice and garden inspiration.

Happy gardening! Claudia x