Gardening Jobs for March: What to Do in Your Garden This Month

March marks the turning point in the gardening year. Light levels rise, soil begins to warm, and growth quietly accelerates beneath the surface. This is the month to build momentum — sowing under cover, preparing beds, and tackling a handful of high-impact jobs that make the rest of spring easier and more productive.

Whether you’re growing flowers, food, or a bit of both, this March checklist will help you get ahead without rushing the season

• Sow half-hardy seeds under cover (tomatoes, chillies, cosmos)
• Direct sow hardy crops once soil is workable
• Prepare beds: weed, rake, and mulch
• Pinch out sweet peas and pot on seedlings
• Begin early pest checks (slugs and aphids)
• Feed lawns and tidy borders

• March is a busy month for flower growers, especially if you’re planning a long cutting season.
• Sow hardy annuals under cover in a greenhouse, cold frame, or bright windowsill
• From mid to late March, prepare beds for direct sowing of hardy annuals in April
• Sow perennial seeds now for long-term structure and repeat flowering
• Pinch out winter-sown sweet peas to encourage bushier, flower-rich plants
• Prick out annual seedlings once true leaves appear, handling gently by the leaves
• Take basal cuttings of early perennials such as phlox and delphiniums

This is a prime month to think ahead for summer bouquets — steady, well-timed sowing now leads to stronger stems and better flowering later.

What to Sow Under Cover

• Sow tomatoes, chillies, peppers, and aubergines in warmth and good light
• Towards the end of March, sow courgettes and cucumbers if you have heat and space
• Start beetroot, peas, and leeks indoors for transplanting later

What to Sow or Plant Outdoors

Only work soil when it’s dry enough — if it sticks to your boots, wait.

• Direct sow broad beans, spinach, and radishes
• Sow carrots and parsnips once soil begins to warm; cover with fleece to deter carrot fly
• Plant onion and shallot sets, spacing carefully
• Plant early potatoes in trenches or large containers
• Sow hardy peas under fleece for protection and earlier harvests
• Plant garlic if you haven’t already — growth may be slow initially but will surge later

Bed Preparation

• Dig over empty vegetable beds as crops finish
• Let frost and air break down clods naturally
• Improve drainage and structure ahead of heavier sowing in April

March is ideal for refreshing herb beds and starting new plants.

• Sow coriander, flat-leaf parsley, garlic chives, and salad leaves under cover
• Indoors, start dill, fennel, and French sorrel
• Direct sow chervil, chives, and sage in prepared soil
• Plant pots of mint, thyme, rosemary, and tarragon near the kitchen door
• Divide established clumps of chives to rejuvenate growth

Herbs started now establish quickly and provide reliable pickings through spring.

Even before spring fully arrives, there’s plenty to enjoy:

• Kale, cauliflower, and purple sprouting broccoli
• Parsnips and other overwintered root vegetables
• Chard and spinach
• Salad leaves grown under cover and pea tips
• Hardy herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme, and bay
• Early rhubarb as temperatures rise

This is a good reminder of why winter preparation matters.

Soil, Borders & General Care

• Weed borders early while weeds are small and manageable
• Mulch beds with garden compost to retain moisture and suppress weeds
• Finish rose pruning early in the month
• Tidy alpines and mulch with grit to keep foliage dry

Pests & Plant Protection

• Check tender new shoots for aphids and remove promptly
• Install slug barriers around vulnerable plants such as hostas
• Protect early sowings with fleece or cloches where needed

Wildlife & Ecology

• Create insect habitats using bug boxes or bundles of hollow stems
• Continue feeding garden birds as breeding season begins
• Consider adding a pond or water feature to attract beneficial wildlife

Structural & Seasonal Jobs

• Feed lawns to encourage spring growth
• Build or buy a compost bin ready for the growing season
• Replant forced bulbs from indoors into borders after flowering
• Check tree ties and stakes for tightness and stability
• Prune wind-damaged branches on trees and shrubs
• Dig out perennial weeds such as ground elder while growth is young
• Chop down winter green manure and dig it into soil
• Cut back winter-flowering jasmine once flowering finishes

• Working wet soil, which leads to compaction
• Sowing tender plants too early without enough light or warmth
• Ignoring slugs who will eat up all your seedlings

Patience in March pays off all year. March is about setting rhythm rather than rushing ahead. A few focused jobs each week — sowing steadily, preparing soil properly, and staying observant — will make the garden feel lighter, healthier, and ready for the months to come.

Save this checklist, then choose one flower task, one edible sowing, and one tidy job to do this weekend. You’ll feel the whole garden shift.