What to do in the Garden this March with the Gro Garden Blog

Welcome to March and the beginning of Autumn! It’s nature’s time for planting. As the soaking Autumn rains begin, the warmth of the baking summer sun is retained in the soil, thanks to the natural mulch created by the falling Autumn leaves. Milder temperatures and more reliable rainfall makes Autumn gardening an absolute joy.

Garden jobs for March:
  • Continue to harvest as summer fruits and vegetables mature.
  • As crops finish, prepare garden beds for planting by adding compost and mulch.
  • Consider some crop rotation to give your garden beds a break and rejuvenate the soil. Plant a Green Manure Crop for a season to give back some much-needed nutrients.
  • Autumn is time to plant spring flowering bulbs. These are beginning to arrive at garden centres now.
  • For areas with a lower ph – Add lime to lawns and garden beds to be washed in and to sweeten the soil. Note: do not use lime where acid loving plants such as Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Pieris or Daphne are grown.
  • Feed Citrus trees and continue to water well.
  • Watch for caterpillars attacking leafy crops in the veggie garden. Ask your garden centre expert about the best solutions.
  • Fertilise lawns to help to recover from the stress of summer.
  • Sweet peas are very colourful and very popular. Now is the time to sow. Tall, medium or dwarf sweet peas all share the same desire for sun and good drainage.
  • Prune back roses for an abundant Autumn show.
  • Feed cymbidium orchids now to encourage flower spikes and larger flowers.
  • New season’s Cyclamen, Primulas, Polyanthus, Violas, Dianthus and Pansies are beginning to arrive ready for autumn planting
  • Autumn is the perfect time for planting natives and advanced trees.

What to grow in March:

Flowers:

  • Alyssum
  • Calendula
  • Cineraria
  • Cornflower
  • Dianthus
  • Nemesia
  • Pansy
  • Primula
  • Snapdragon
  • Virginian Stock
  • Viola
  • Sweet Pea

In the Veggie Patch

Tropics Sub-tropical Arid Temperate
Asian Greens Asian Greens Artichoke Asian Greens
Basil Basil French and Climbing Beans Broccoli
French and Climbing Beans Broccoli Beetroot Brussel Sprouts
Carrot Brussel Sprouts Broccoli Cabbage
Cauliflower Cabbage Brussel Sprouts Carrot
Cucumber Carrot Cabbage Cauliflower
Eggplant Capsicum Carrot Celery
Leek Cauliflower Cauliflower Chives
Potato Celery Celery Coriander
Silverbeet Chilli Chives Dill
Spring Onion Chives Coriander Garlic
Sweet Corn Coriander Cucumber Mediterranean Herbs*
Tomato Dill Garlic Kale
Mediterranean Herbs* Kale Leek
Kale Leek Lettuce
Leek Lettuce Mint
Lettuce Onion Parsley
Mint Parsley Radish
Parsley Pumpkin Rocket
Radish Radish Silverbeet
Rocket Rocket Spring Onion
Silverbeet Silverbeet
Spring Onion Spring Onion
Tomato Tomato

*Including Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Majoram, and Oregano.