For gardeners in the South East of England, March is the pivotal month. As the clay soils of the Weald begin to warm and the chalky downs drain away the last of the winter wet, the garden shifts from dormancy to a frantic race for growth. There is plenty of preparation to do in an English garden in March.
Wake Up the Soil
Your first priority is soil health. In the South East, we often deal with heavy clay or thin, hungry chalk. Before the ground becomes too hidden by emerging perennials, mulch your borders heavily. Use well-rotted garden compost or manure to lock in the winter moisture before the drier spring winds arrive. Avoid treading on waterlogged beds; if the soil sticks to your boots, work from a timber plank to distribute your weight.
The Great Prune
March is the last chance to prune bush and climbing Roses before they put too much energy into new leaves. Aim for an open, outward-facing structure to encourage airflow—essential in our increasingly humid summers. It is also the moment for hard pruning of late-summer flowering shrubs like Buddleja, Sambucus, and Cornus (dogwood). Cutting them back to a low framework now ensures vigorous new stems and better leaf color.
Sowing and Growing
On the veg patch, if you’ve been warming the soil under cloches, you can run rows of early carrots, parsnips, and broad beans. However, the real action is under glass. Start your tomatoes, chillies, and aubergines on a sunny windowsill or in a heated propagator. For those on the coast or in the milder pockets of Kent and Sussex, you might risk a first planting of early potatoes (chitted throughout February) toward the end of the month.
Lawn and Infrastructure
If the surface is dry enough, give the lawn its first high cut of the year, just taking the tips off to encourage thickening. Finally, check your supports. With the South East prone to sudden spring gales, ensure your rose arches, pergolas, and stakes are sturdy enough to support the coming season’s growth.
Lighter evenings give you more time to get out into the garden. So have fun in March.