March is the month to get seeds and plants going. Sow lettuce, rocket, carrots, peas and broad beans outside as soon as the soil is workable. Early potatoes that have been chitted can go out and onion and shallot sets can be planted. Undercover/indoors sow your tomatoes, peppers, aubergines. Prune Gooseberries and currants now as the sap is beginning to rise, and cuts will heal faster.

Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of herbaceous perennials, and plant new shrubs and perennials. Lift and divide congested bulbs after they have flowered. Add a layer of organic mulch to beds to suppress weeds and retain moisture. Finish pruning bush and climbing roses and wisteria by the end of the month. Prune Buddleia to a low framework of stems to encourage new flowering growth. Feed ericaceous shrubs such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and pieris with an ericaceous fertilizer.

Mow lawns if needed but start on a high setting as the new shoots will still be tender. Rake/scarify areas that are mossy but hold off if soil is very wet/clay soil. Apply a spring weed and feed. Refill bird baths, overwintering insects will still be using hollow stems and leaf litter, so leave off clearing them until after all frosts have been and the insects will have come out of their winter lodgings.

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