March - the Start of Spring

• Now really is the last opportunity to cut back any old stems of herbaceous perennials

• It is also necessary to be ruthless to those semi-evergreen perennials such as Penstemon and cut them right back – it seems drastic, but this will encourage vigorous new flowering shoots from the base of the plant

• March is also the time to be dividing congested perennials. For most, wait until the first signs of growth then lift and split. Discard the dead or woody centre of the clump and replant the younger vigorous parts from around the edges. Hostas should be divided before they break into leaf.

• Save any spare plants you have as we are hoping to have a Plant Sale for the Club in May

• The fresh growth of new shoots and new roots will also be a magnet for pests. If your Heucheras seem to suddenly die and stems become detached from the base of the plant, this is probably the grubs of the Vine Weevil munching away at the roots. A good biological control is the use of a nematode wash and products such as Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer should be applied now and then again in the autumn.

• Similar biological control with a different type of nematode is available for the control of Slugs. Biological control such as this is not harmful to birds or other wildlife.

• Shrubs grown for winter colour of their stems such as Cornus should be cut back (stooled) now.

• March is also the season for seed sowing in earnest. Many hardy annuals can be sown outdoors now, with half-hardy annuals and tender vegetables being started off indoors or under cover.

• Continue to nurture stored Dahlia tubers back into life for early displays by watering lightly and storing the tubers in the light to encourage new shoots prior to planting