It all starts to happen in March. The garden shakes off the last of its winter slumber and bursts into life, with warmer soil, stronger light and buds and shoots teasing a glimpse of what’s to come.
This year, it pays to plan for a March that’s out of the ordinary. The Met Office predicts 2026 to be one of the four hottest years since records began, with temperatures tipped to start soaring at the end of the month. For gardeners, that means keeping a watchful eye on plants, soil and wildlife for any unseasonal activity. Nature doesn’t check the calendar, so use your judgement and be ready to adjust your gardening jobs for March according to temperature, soil moisture, or early flowering. With hot, dry weather ahead, getting the garden ready now will pay dividends for the summer.
Trex, the composite decking brand, has teamed up with outdoor living expert and TrexPro installer Simon Parry to share his must-do March jobs that will make all the difference.
1. Treat the lawn to a trim
“Keep an eye on the weather,” says Simon, who owns Simon Parry Landscaping and Gardening. “If we get the warm, dry days we’ve been promised, your lawn might need its first light trim of the year. Be gentle and raise those mower blades high – no need to go for the bowling green look just yet!”
2. Plant onions and early potatoes
“March is a great time to start growing vegetables, even if you’ve never done it before,” Simon says. “The soil is beginning to warm up and there’s less chance of hard frost, which makes it a good moment to get planting.”
You could start by planting onion and shallot sets – these are small, baby onions that are easy for beginners to grow. Simply push them into the soil so the tip is just showing. You can also plant early potatoes now, for harvesting in June or July.
If you have any bare-root fruit trees (trees bought without soil around the roots), this is usually your last chance to plant them before they start growing leaves. Choose a sunny spot and make sure you leave plenty of space for the tree to grow wider as it matures.
3. Reinvigorate the decking or patio
“When the warm weather arrives, don’t let it catch you out – be ready to enjoy it,” Simon says. “An alfresco coffee in the morning sun will taste so much better if your outdoor space is clean and uncluttered.
“Sweep away dirt, moss and leaves and give your deck or patio a clean. For composite decking, a gentle wash with water and a mild detergent will be enough. Find a place for toys, garden furniture and anything that doesn’t need to be there, so you can enjoy the outdoors in a relaxing setting.
“For me, I get my BBQs and pizza oven out in March and give them a good clean ready for the first sunny weekend. A clean deck and a clean BBQ is the ultimate dream!
“BBQ ash is also a brilliant 100% natural organic deterrent for slugs so spread this around your hostas and other plants to protect from slugs.”
For an instant springtime mood lifter, put pots of colourful blooms on the deck or patio as part of your gardening jobs for March.
4. Divide weary perennials
Spotted any overgrown clumps of perennials looking tired after the long winter? March is the perfect time to lift and split the summer-flowering varieties, especially when the soil is dry and easier to shake off.
Simon says: “Most perennials benefit from being divided every couple of years, especially plants such as agapanthus, aster, euphorbia, geranium, buttercup, verbena, sea holly and ornamental grasses.
“Dividing them up breathes new life into them, while also giving you a lot more plants for the garden.”
5. Show slugs who’s boss
As temperatures rise, so do the numbers of slugs in the garden, tempted by tender new shoots. But they’re not necessarily our enemy, says Simon.
“Slugs are an important part of the garden ecosystem, providing food for hedgehogs, frogs, birds and beetles. Only a few UK slug species eat our thriving plants. Many tuck into decaying plant material and fungi, making them an ally in the compost bin.
“Be selective about where you use slug control techniques and focus your efforts on protecting specific plants and areas. Choose methods that are safe for other creatures – think copper tape, beer traps, or wildlife-friendly pellets.”
6. Plant summer bulbs
With spring bulbs already preparing their displays, now it’s time to plant summer-flowering bulbs such as dahlias, lilies, crocosmia and begonias. “Get them going now and they’ll reward you with dazzling blooms when the warmer weather arrives,” Simon says. “Think of it as planning for a summer garden party.”
7. Prepare the pond
This is a good time to prepare garden ponds for summer. Check on any plants, including at the base, and gently remove any weed seedlings that have taken root – essential gardening jobs for March.
When checking the pond, lift the pond pump out and give it a clean/service. Perfect time of year after sitting there over winter.
Prune back plants that have grown too big, especially those that drop decaying leaves into the water.
March is also when you might spot frog or toad spawn in the pond, so take extra care not to disturb them – and don’t be tempted to remove them to another pond, as that can spread disease and damage the water’s ecosystem.
Trex is available from a range of builders’ merchants, garden and landscape supplies specialists across the UK, as well as at over 150 Wickes DIY stores. For more information on Trex, visit uk.trex.com
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