March is finally here, bringing some much-needed sunshine and warmer temperatures with it. Now is the ideal time to plant new trees and shrubs and enjoy your garden coming to life 🌱🌷

1. Prepare Beds and Borders

A good clean-up of your garden borders and beds will ensure easy planting and keep your shrubs & trees healthy. Remove any winter debris or fallen leaves, lightly fork over the beds, and add a generous layer of compost. Also remove any emerging weeds - this gives your soil the boost it needs for a luscious garden this spring.

2. Plant or repot evergreen shrubs

The end of March is a great time to plant or re-pot your evergreen trees & shrubs. As the weather warms, it allows roots to establish themselves and minimizes transplant shock.
 
Important note: If you move your evergreen, give it extra water during the summer months so it survives.

3. Prune your roses (Bush & Climber)

The best time to prune roses is early March, as it allows you to shape them before new growth begins. Remove any dead or diseased wood, and make every cut no more than 5mm above a bud. Angle the cut so it slopes downward away from the bud, which helps prevent water collecting on it. Aim for a goblet shape to encourage airflow and prevent crossing stems.

4. Care for my lawn

As we move into spring, you may have noticed more growth on your lawn. You can begin mowing, but keep it light and infrequent. On the first cut, keep it fairly long to prevent damage to new growth. If you want to give your lawn a helping hand, apply some plant food to encourage healthy growth and improve soil fertility.

5. Prevent slugs

If there's one thing gardeners dread, it's slugs. Warmer, wetter conditions create the perfect environment for these critters. To prevent them from damaging your plants, consider using copper wire (which gives off a mild electrical charge) or wildlife-friendly slug pellets.