We're now halfway through March, and as temperatures rise and spring arrives, it's the perfect time to focus on essential garden tasks. Whether you're pruning, deadheading, or caring for your lawn, March is when your garden truly comes back to life.
PRUNING
Roses: March is ideal for pruning rose bushes to stimulate fresh growth. Make cuts no more than 5mm (¼ in) above a bud, angling them downwards away from the bud to prevent water pooling. This technique applies to all pruning work—removing dead wood, deadheading, and seasonal maintenance.
Clematis (Group 2 and Group 3 varieties): Pruning now prevents tangled, overgrown stems. For Group 2, remove dead stems and trim remaining growth back to just above a pair of strong, healthy buds, typically around 1.5m from ground level. For Group 3, cut all stems back hard to 15–30cm above ground level.
Fuchsias: Encourage fuller, bushier growth by cutting stems back hard to 7–10cm above ground level or to the lowest healthy buds. Remove any dead, weak, or damaged wood and shape the plant evenly to support vigorous new growth and summer flowering.
Winter Jasmine: Cut back flowered stems hard to within a few buds of the permanent framework. Remove dead wood and thin out congested stems to promote fresh, healthy growth.
We stock a comprehensive range of pruning tools to make these tasks easier. Explore our pruning tool collection.
DEADHEAD
Winter Pansies: Regular deadheading encourages continuous blooming by preventing seed formation and directing energy into new flowers. Remove spent blooms every 2–3 days or weekly to keep plants full and vibrant.
Daffodils: Deadhead as flowers fade, then allow foliage to die back naturally to encourage stronger blooms next year.
Hydrangeas: Deadhead before new growth emerges, cutting plants back to approximately one-third of last season's growth.
LAWN CARE
Re-establish crisp lawn edges using a cordless edger for a professional finish with minimal effort.
Mow your lawn on a dry day. For the first cut of the season, use a higher blade setting than usual to protect the grass and prevent damage as it emerges from winter dormancy.