Brits have been told to finish four jobs in their garden this weekend. Gardening website Greenhouse Stores has released a list of tasks for gardeners to get done before the end of March.
The site said this month is when the growing season “properly starts”, with soil temperatures rising and days lengthening. One way this will be obvious is by looking at your lawn. The lawn wakes up in March.
By the end of the month, you should see visible growth in most parts of the UK, as soil temperatures hit around 7C. The first of the four jobs is to do your first mow of the year if the grass is actively growing. Greenhouse Stores said to set the mower to its highest setting, at least 40mm, for the first cut.
Brits are warned to only mow when the ground is dry enough that their feet do not leave marks, and never remove more than one-third of the grass blade length at once.
The next job is to repair bare patches by raking out dead grass, forking the soil and overseeding. Cover the lawn with a thin layer of compost and keep it moist.
Third on the list is to apply a spring feed. A high-nitrogen lawn feed from mid-March encourages growth. Follow the packet’s instructions exactly, as using too much scorches the grass.
The final job is to aerate compacted areas. Push a garden fork 10cm deep at 15cm intervals, focusing on waterlogged or heavily trodden patches.
Other general garden tidying jobs include clearing winter debris. Remove fallen branches, dead leaves, and any protective mulch to clear the way for plants that no longer need winter cover.
This is also a good time to repair storm-damaged fences and paths before climbing plants start growing through panels and empty, scrub, and reconnect water butts for spring rain.
If you have enough space, you could set up compost bins with March grass clippings and garden waste to kick-start a new heap. Mix green waste with cardboard for the best results.
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