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A few hours in the garden now could transform your borders by summer
As winter slowly loosens its grip and our gardens begin to stir, March brings a welcome list of jobs to tackle — including planting perennials such as delphiniums and poppies for months of endless colour.
Planting perennials in March allows them to focus on building a strong root system before putting energy into leaves and flowers. Plus, with more consistent temperatures, planting now means they will stay hydrated without transplant shock or heat stress.
But, according to gardening expert Paul Parker from J.Parker's, you should still keep a close eye on the weather. 'Although you can get started planting these perennial plants in March, they won't fare well in the cold, so they may need some protection from frost using cloches or fleeces if cold weather is forecast,' he says.
Take a look at the perennials to plant in March before it's too late.
Whether cascading down from hanging baskets or growing along a balcony, geraniums provide beautiful bursts of colour in the summer — and now is a great time to plant them.
'Geraniums are brilliant gap fillers as they knit a border together, cover bare soil and soften edges without you having to think too hard about them,' says Julian.
Sun-loving delphiniums stand tall in borders, bringing beautiful colour in early summer.
'Delphiniums need decent soil, staking and a bit of shelter from wind, but they'll pay you back with those tall, classic cottage garden spires at the back of borders,' explains Julian. 'They are worth getting in now, as long as you can give them sun and reasonably free-draining soil.'
To plant yours, dig a hole twice the width and depth of the plant. Then, add a good layer of grit to the bottom before filling with soil (this will help with drainage). Water well and you'll be rewarded with a stunning flush of flowers.
'For late summer and into autumn, March is the time to get rudbeckia and hardy salvias in the ground,' Julian tells us.
'These are the plants that keep a border looking alive when everything else is starting to wind down, and they sit naturally alongside grasses and seedheads in a relaxed style of planting.'
A symbol of war sorrow, letterbox-red poppies are best planted in spring to give them plenty of time to establish before they flower in summer.
'If you're after something with a bit more presence early in the season, oriental poppies are worth getting in now,' says Julian. 'Poppies flower in late spring and early summer, then quietly disappear, so it's worth pairing them with something that picks up later on.'
Deadhead regularly to prolong blooming.
And finally, don't forget to plant your astrantias before it's too late. Bringing something more intricate and sitting perfectly in a country-style planting scheme, they are charming perennials that offer plenty of lure to buzzing bees.
Space each one 60cm apart, opting for borders with dappled shade.
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