|
Mulch beds and borders
while soil is moist to reduce watering and weeding
later in the year. |
|
Sow seeds of summer bedding plants,
annual climbers, herbs, sweet peas, tomatoes and
many vegetables this month. Some seeds can be sown
directly into open ground but most benefit from
being started off in pots or trays with protection
from bad weather and pests. |
|
Prick out seedlings before they
become overcrowded, otherwise they will make poor
plants. |
|
Thin hardy annuals and vegetables
sown in the open ground before they become crowded
and compete with each other for light and nutrients. |
|
Pot up or space out in seed trays
in the greenhouse young bedding plants and tender
perennials ordered by post as soon as possible
after they arrive. |
|
Divide congested clumps of border
perennials before they make a lot of new growth. |
|
Take hardwood cuttings of any shrubs
you wish to propagate. Soon new growth will make
this kind of cutting inappropriate. |
|
Take root cuttings; they are more
likely to root if taken from dormant plants. |
|
Prune roses as soon as possible,
ideally before this year's new growth is well developed. |
|
Complete planting of bare-root
fruit trees and bushes and bare-root roses and
other shrubs this month to give them time to establish
before dry summer weather. |
|
Start spraying fruit such as apples
and pears if you have had problems with pests and
diseases in previous years. The timing for some
sprays is critical and depends on the state of
the buds or flowers to avoid harming bees and other
beneficial insects. |
|
Be strict about pest control in
the greenhouse. Warm March days under glass can
encourage a population explosion of many greenhouse
pests and early control is important. |
|
Remove the pool heater if you used
one over the winter and replace it with the pump. |
