Gardening expert Monty Don has shared a key job for March – and it’s all about weeds. Here’s what you need to know
People should do this job in March(Image: Penpak Ngamsathain via Getty Images)
Renowned horticulturist and Gardeners’ World lead presenter Monty Don has highlighted an essential task perfect for March. And with March now here, there’s no better moment to make a start.
BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine has advised that now’s the ideal opportunity to plan your approach. The website encourages gardeners to “tidy up borders” and “remove established and newly-germinating weeds.”
In a video demonstration on the platform, Monty Don illustrated a simple hand-weeding technique. Within his walkthrough, he reassures viewers that this March chore is likely more straightforward than anticipated.
He explained: “The important thing to realise is that weed is simply a plant in the wrong place.” Looking in a video at weeds amongst the peonies, he said there are nettles, dandelions and chickweed flourishing nearby – all classic examples of unwanted growth. For their removal, “you need an implement of some sort.”
Monty Don said you don’t need a specific tool(Image: Colin McPherson/Corbis via Getty Images)
Showing a compact, curved instrument, he emphasises that “anything will do” and “what matters is getting in there.” Using the pointed tool, he carefully slides beneath the plant before extracting its roots. Simple as that.
While some weeds can take a while to appear, others can grow easily and spread quickly. On the topic of chickweed, experts at RHS note that gardeners need to remember “chickweed seeds spread easily on muddy boots and in topsoil and garden compost, so pay attention to good garden hygiene, and avoid moving soil from a patch where you have allowed chickweed to grow.”
When it comes to dandelions, the RHS advises that gardeners tending to borders and beds “might want to limit their numbers if they are growing small or young plants that could be swamped or outcompeted by dandelions.”
On the subject of stinging nettles, the experts highlight the “good news” that people “can easily control the spread of stinging nettles by deadheading and removing seedlings.”
Monty advises: “It’s very important to do it now so they don’t seed and they don’t take over. The other thing about weeds is to do it a little bit at a time.
“Do one metre properly, and that’s far better than doing 10 metres half-heartedly.”
The gardening expert said it’s a simple method to tackling weeds(Image: Kinga Krzeminska via Getty Images)
Tackling these troublesome plants further, the Gardeners’ World website recommends that you should “clear old crops and weeds from the veg plot, then dig over the soil, mixing in compost as you go.”
Another essential task for March is to “dig over any gaps in borders, removing the roots of perennial weeds.” You can watch Monty Don’s guide to weeding here.
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