Gardening in Scotland in March requires a bit of caution, as the weather can still be quite unpredictable. Here's a breakdown of key gardening tasks and considerations:
Key Considerations:
Weather:
Be prepared for continued cold and potential frosts.
Soil temperatures will still be low.
Protection for vulnerable plants is essential.
Soil:
Only work the soil when it's workable (not waterlogged or frozen).
Preparing soil by adding compost is a good idea.
Gardening Tasks:
Sowing Seeds:
Indoors/Greenhouse:
Start seeds for plants that need a long growing season, such as tomatoes, chillies, peppers, and aubergines.
Sow hardy vegetables like broad beans and some brassicas.
Outdoors:
If soil conditions are favourable, sow hardy vegetables like peas, broad beans, and some brassicas (cabbage, kale, radish).
Be prepared to protect outdoor sowings with cloches or fleece.
Planting:
Plant early potatoes towards the end of the month, providing frost protection.
Plant onion and shallot sets.
Plant summer flowering bulbs such as lilies.
General Tasks:
Tidy up flower beds and borders, removing debris and weeds.
Prune remaining winter-flowering shrubs.
Check garden structures for winter damage.
Apply mulch to beds to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
Keep on top of weeding.
Clean out bird feeders.
Fruit:
Last chance to carry out winter pruning of fruit trees and bushes.
Plant bare root fruit trees and bushes.
Important Tips:
Check seed packets for specific sowing instructions.
Protect young plants from frost with fleece or cloches.
Be mindful of soil conditions before working the ground.
When planting onion and shallot sets, protect them from birds with netting.
By being mindful of the weather and focusing on appropriate tasks, you can make a good start to your Scottish gardening season in March.
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