TO mow or not to mow is the question every gardener asks in March.
The temptation when the temperature slowly creeps up, combined with the warmth of Spring sunshine sees the grass wake up from its winter dormancy and start to grow. Spring is coming.
Gardeners World presenter and all-round garden genius, Monty Don, urges anyone with a green thumb not too be too tempted by the Spring changes.
In his March blog post, he acknowledges that the “grass will need Mowing in March but do not cut it too short”.
Instead, he encourages “light trims for the rest of the month” which will help boost good root growth, and your lawn will be “a lot healthier” as a result.
It will also stand a better chance of “resisting summer drought”, should Summer 2025 be a hot one.
If lawncare is your passion, then “you have to think positively”, Monty added, and suggested putting effort into “healthy grass rather than fighting perceived ‘problems’ like daisies, moss, ants, worm-casts, moles, plantains, dandelions and fairy rings”.
His wisdom continued: “Nine times out of ten if the grass is healthy then everything else will look after itself.”
But how does one achieve “the best grass”? It starts with very well drained soil.
Look closely at the ground beneath your feet, if you see moss, it is a sign of poor drainage – which is only made worse if the area is a shady spot.
If your grass is also used as a playing spot for kids or the dog, then the roots might be matted.
Find a garden fork and stick it in the ground, wiggle it about and repeat every six inches or so to aerate the soil.
Then, mix equal parts of topsoil, sharp sand and leaf mould or compost and spread it into the holes. This will not only help with drainage but also feed the grass.
Monty also recommends “giving the lawn a good scratch with a wire rake” to remove all the thatch and moss that grew over winter, as well as let the light and water get to the soil and roots.
You can gather the debris from raking and put it in your compost, before mowing.
Don’t worry if the grass looks bald for a few weeks, Monty’s method will guarantee it to “grow back thicker than ever”.
Other gardening jobs to tackle in March
Prune roses
The first half of the month is a great time to prune shrubs or climbers that will flower on new growth – roses, clematis and buddleias for example.
When you see new shoots appear – follow the rule of always cutting back to something, be it a side shoot or leaf bud.
The reason for pruning is to encourage vigorous new growth that will in turn produce lots of flowers in the summer.
5 Must-have DIY tools
Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO revealed the best pieces of kit you need to get jobs done around the house and garden.
Pruning Shears – The perfect tool for trimming plants, cutting dead branches, and shaping your shrubs and bushes.
Watering Hose – Ideal for larger gardens, watering hoses provide a wide coverage of hydration for your plants, especially when using with a spray nozzle.
Gardening Fork – This is an essential for loosening soil, removing weeds, and evenly spreading mulch.
Dibber – A dibber is a great tool to help in creating uniform planting holes for your seeds and seedlings.
Garden Twine & Scissors – A handy must-have for tying up plants, training vines, and providing structural support to your greenery.
Plant Dhalia tubers
Looking for a gorgeous flower to impress visitors? Dhalias are the one for you.
If you haven’t grown them before, you can pot new tubers up in March so they can start to grow with some protection.
In a plastic pot or bucket with drainage holes, plant the tubers so they are just covered by peat-free compost.
Then, once the risk of frost has passed in a few months, you plant them out.
Keep feeding birds
Most birds are nesting and laying eggs this month – many will start rearing young.
Spring puts great demands on their energy when there is not much natural food around, so scatter some bird seed, or hand bird fat balls from a tree.
