22 hours Ago By Zahna Eklund
Spring is almost here, and it's time to get to work in your garden . March is finally upon us, and that means we're coming out of winter and into spring. This time of year is often associated with new beginnings as it's the time when flowers begin to bloom after months of lifeless gardens.
Most of us will have neglected our outside spaces while the weather was too dreadful to even consider going outside, but now that things should be warming up, it's time to don our gardening gloves and put those green thumbs to work. One gardening expert on social media has shared a video detailing all the jobs we should be doing in March if we want our gardens to thrive throughout spring and summer - and his top three tips are very important. Michael Griffiths, also known as The Mediterranean Gardener, posted the list of crucial jobs in a TikTok video, and started by saying there's one plant we need to take care of now if we want it to look stunning in the summer.
It sounds obvious, but the first thing you should do this month is tidy your garden. If you've not been keeping on top of things while the weather has been miserable, you'll likely have dead plants, loose twigs, and all sorts of debris that the wind has blown in. Cleaning these up as soon as possible will give you plenty of time to assess the space you've got to work with for the summer.
During the tidy, Michael recommends removing "established and newly germinating weeds before they take hold", so that your garden isn't overrun with unwanted weeds later in the year. Also included in this job is pruning any dogwoods and willows you might have "right down to the base to promote vigorous new growth", and checking new shoots for aphids. If you find any of the tiny bugs, Michael states you should "wipe them off before they can multiply".
If you're trying to grow roses this year, Michael recommends feeding them now to promote "better blooms" when they flower. Roses typically bloom from late spring to early autumn, but the exact time depends on the variety of rose that you have, as well as the climate they're growing in. Feeding roses in March also promotes resistance to disease, which can help your flowers last even longer.
Michael also suggested that you finish pruning your roses early in the month. When it comes to other flowers you might want to grow in your garden, the expert recommended planting lilies and other summer-flowering bulbs in pots and borders now so that they're ready when the warmer months come. If you have bird feeders in your garden, now is an excellent time to make sure there's plenty of food in them as many birds will begin their mating season around this time and will need extra food.
According to the RSPB , birds require high-protein foods throughout the spring and summer. However, they warned you should be careful with home-made fat balls as these can melt in warm weather. Bird feeders should be refilled at least once a day, ideally at the same time each day.
The best times to fill your bird feeder are first thing in the morning or just before dusk..
