Spring is knocking and here's how to answer it properly! Whether you're dreaming of vibrant blooms, a flourishing vegetable patch, or simply a well-maintained outdoor space, now is the ideal time to roll up your sleeves and get your hands a little dirty.
From enriching your soil to planning new plantings and refreshing your flower beds, a little effort at the start of the season will reward you with stronger plants, better yields, and far less work later on.
Starting in February and March: Gardening Tips for What to Plant Now
Wondering how to prepare in February and what to plant in March? Early spring is when smart gardeners quietly get ahead. Here are some of the best plants to sow this month to ensure a vibrant and productive outdoor space:
Vegetables to Plant in Early Spring
For results you can actually taste, start these now using peat-free compost in grow bags:
- Chillies, tomatoes, aubergine, and peppers. Sow indoors in February and March using peat-free compost. This gives young plants warmth, moisture, and protection while the weather does its thing outside.
If you’re looking to plant directly outdoors, hardy vegetables like carrots, spinach, and broad beans can go straight into the ground. Just make sure the soil is well prepared and enriched with organic matter or blended horse manure to improve drainage and feed the roots for the very get go.
Do this right, and you're setting up a productive growing season before most people have even started thinking about it.
Flowers to Sow in March (For Colour That Lasts)
If you want to bring early spring colour to your garden, sweet peas, pansies, and marigolds are ideal for planting this month.
- Sweet peas can be started indoors and then moved outside as the temperatures rise. They reward patience with colour and scent.
- Pansies and violas are tough, cheerful, and perfect for early-season colour.
- Marigolds will gleam and dazzle, often bright and fragrant. A classic for a reason, which is why we'll say no more.
For the best start, use high-quality compost that will nourish your plants for months as the temperatures rise.
Spring Garden Preparation: Soil and Lawn Care
Here's the truth... great gardens are built from the ground up. With healthy soil being the foundation of any thriving garden. Before planting anything, consider adding peat-free compost to enrich your soil and boost plant health. Compost improves moisture retention and provides vital nutrients for vegetables and flowers alike.
Lawn care is also essential in early spring. Before laying new turf, enrich the soil with blended horse manure to provide essential nutrients. This will help the grass establish itself and grow strong and healthy as it takes root.
A top gardening tip: If you already have a lawn, aerating the soil and applying a spring lawn feed can promote lush growth. Adding a layer of landscape bark around flower beds and pathways can also help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Herbs to Plant Now for a Summer Harvest
For one of the easiest wins in gardening... Herbs. But only if you start them early! Think coriander, chives, and parsley as these are wonderful additions to any garden, big or small, bringing both fragrance and flavour. These edibles thrive when started early, and using nutrient-rich compost will give them the boost they need to flourish in the spring, ensuring they’re at their best when summer rolls around.
With a little effort and the right gardening products, your outdoor space will flourish as the weather warms, providing you with beauty, fragrance, and fresh produce well into the summer months.
So roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and give spring the welcome it deserves. Happy planting!
