March garden guide: Tips to help keep your garden in sharp shape

This is the month where preparing and planting your winter garden is essential. Follow our guide below on what to plant in your garden this winter before its too late.

Heading into Autumn is the perfect time to plant with the ground still warm and the first lot of rain coming down to help establish new plants growth.

What are the most important jobs to accomplish this month?

• Planting, fertilizing, feeding, watering and weeding should be at the top of your list. To see what to plant and when in your area, you can download this handy planting calendar. Download this handy planting calendar to see what to plant in your area, and when.

Flower Garden

• Continue to prepare your soil for winter by composting and fertilizing.
• Continue pulling out summer herbs and vegetables to add to your compost bin.
• If you have decided to give your veggie patch a break over winter, you can sow a crop of blue lupin or mustard see to add nutrients and nitrogen back into the soil.
• If you live in a colder climate, be sure to plant your favourite vegetable seedlings ASAP for a head start on winter crops!
• Just like your flower garden, use snail and slug pallets to protect new plantings from pests.

Sowing Seeds

• Chives, mint, rosemary and parsley are great herbs to plant in March.
• Winter vegetables can be sown, including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beetroot, Brussel sprouts, spinach, winter lettuce, carrots, leeks, and silverbeet.
• Winter flower seedlings including pansy’s, viola, primula, polyanthus, calendula, cineraria, lobelia, poppies, alyssum, stock and snapdragon are now able to be planted.
• Anemones and ranunculus can last up to six months with stagger planting.

Watering

• If you live in warmer climates, be sure to water your gardens regularly and deeply to keep your garden hydrated and vibrant.
• By mulching around your plants, you are able to cool the roots and reduce the need to water.
• You can install timers, soil moisture gauges and soaker hoses to take time off your hands when trying to keep your garden hydrated!

On top of preparing and planting your winter flower and edible garden, keeping the rest of the yard in top shape should also be at the top of your list!If you wish to plant a hedge, now is the perfect time while the temperature is dropping!

Repairing your lawn is also important in the autumn months to establish growth over winter. Apply fertilizer to keep your lawn in top shape.