March: A Healthier Garden

Weeds will now be making an unwelcome appearance in your garden. There are several ways to manage weeds. Non chemical control can be done by regular hoeing or hand weeding. Chemical control can be done by using Weedol Gun! Rootkill Plus 1l. It is a total weedkiller for all broad-leaved weeds and grass, killing all weeds to the roots. Get rid of annual weeds by slightly working the soil with a hoe, while perennial weeds can be forked out to the roots.

March is the month when pests such as slugs and snails start to become a problem. Slugs damage young buds within the soil, rendering them useless before they can even start to bloom, therefore it is is vital that you start to crack down on these pests before they continue to destroy your flowers. You can tackle slugs and snails with our range of repellents.

Vitax Slug Gone is a multifunctional repellent that wards off slugs while replenishing the soil. It is applied to the soil below the plant to create a irritating, absorbant mat that works as a natural slug repellent. It prevents slugs and snails from reaching the plant, whilst adding nutrients to the soil and locking in moisture.

However, if you want to kill slugs for good, use Doff Slug and Snail Killer, a ready to use bait that kills pests and reduces the damage they've caused.

Now is the time of year to start pruning the roses in your garden. Pruning helps roses build up a healthy structure for shoots. Rose bushes are tough and can handle heavy pruning, so don't be shy! Get to work on those roses to ensure beautiful and healthy blooms for the months ahead. Want to keep roses healthy and vibrant? Use Doff Rose Feed which promotes stronger growth and vibrant blooms. The formulation contains added seaweed and magnesium extract and works to enhance the colour of your roses. Roses are also susceptible to diseases such as blackspot and mildew. Combat this with RoseClear Ultra Gun! Insecticide and Fungicide that helps to protect your roses and keeps them looking beautiful. Make sure you keep your roses hydrated with plenty of water and keep an eye on them for any potential problems.

March is the month to buy and plant summer flowering bulbs. This can be planted in pots or borders. Bulbs produce a better display when planted in groups of six or more. Dig a hole that is the right depth (as shown on the instructions) for your bulbs – on average, 2-3 times their depth, and sit the bulbs or tubers at the bottom. Place the bulbs in the hole with the shoot facing upwards, and then cover back over gently with the soil.

It is now a suitable time to start sowing all vegetables outside.

Want to add onions and shallots to your vegetable patch? When planting onions, make sure you choose a sunny spot with well drained soil. This will improve your chances of avoiding disease in your crops. Apply a little fertiliser, approx. 35g per sq. metre or 1oz per sq yard. Ideally, Growmore or, if required, organic dried poultry manure, at double the application rate. When planting onion sets, plant 5 – 10cm (2 – 4inches) apart and space the rows 25 – 30 cms (10 – 12 inches and plant approximately 2 cm (3/4”) deep, with the growing tips pointing up.

 

Shallots can be planted in the same way, but 15 – 20 cm (6 – 8”) apart and in rows 30 – 45 cm (1 ft – 18”) apart, with only the growing tips showing. If we encounter long spells of dry weather this month, water these vegetables every 14 days, but avoid watering after midsummer as this affects the storing quality.

Fancy growing potatoes? The best potatoes to grow are first earlies. These will be ready to crop during the summer months. Buy your seed potato tubers from a garden centre, approximately 6 weeks before you want to plant them, during early April.

When you have your tubers, you need to “chit” them. This means allowing them to sprout before planting. We recommend standing them in egg cartons with the eye of the potato pointing upwards (usually at the end of the potato)

Place the egg cartons in a light, but not sunny, position and not cold. Ideally, they should be placed on a sunless window sill indoors.

When the time comes to plant, add homemade compost or farmyard manure to the soil just prior to planting. Plant 12”/30 cm per tuber and 30”/75cm between rows and to a depth of 4 – 6”/10 -15cm and cover. In dry periods, water the potatoes heavily, every 10 days. This allows the water to go down deep.

To keep your vegetables growing strong and flavourful, we recommend using Westland Fish, Blood and Bone which contains the necessary nutrients to improve soil fertility and strong rooting. The formulation also works to improve crop yield.

If you would prefer to use a product that suits both indoor and outdoor environments, Doff Liquid Growmore is a fast-acting liquid plant food with micro-nutrients for the strong, healthy growth of flowers, fruit and vegetables in both gardens and greenhouses.

It is recommended to keep bedding plants inside the greenhouse as it is still too cold to plant outside. Keep plants covered at night so they can remain warm but remember to strike an even balance when it comes to greenhouse temperatures.

March is the time to start mowing your lawn, starting with once a week. Do not mow if the grass is wet. When you do the first cut, aim for the blades to be at a high setting, then each week gradually reduce the height to your preferred height. Try not to mow too low as this can encourage weeds and moss.