Gardening Tips for March

• Prune bush and shrub roses this month. Rambling roses should have been pruned after they flowered and should not be pruned now or you will lose this year's flowers. Climbing roses are usually best pruned in the autumn.
• A good pair of secateurs is a necessity; we have a wide selection to choose from and will be only too happy to advise you. If you have some Felco secateurs that are in need of sharpening or have lost a spring now is the time to make use of our rejuvenating service. Bring them into our reception desk and for a small fee they can be returned to you as good as new.
• When pruning it is important that cuts are cleanly made and not ragged or bruised. Dead or unhealthy growth should be removed, also all shoots that are rubbing or crossing. Shrub roses need little pruning in their first years other than as above. Last year's shoots on bush roses should be pruned back to outward facing buds within 5-8cm of the previous year's growth, the harder you prune the more vigorous will be this year's growth.
• Now the rain has eased and you can walk on lawns without water oozing over your boots it will need it's first cut of the season. Set the blades of your mower at their highest setting. Blunt blades will tear the grass and harm it so make sure your blades are sharp.
• If moss is a problem apply a moss killer before you rake it, as you will only spread the moss if you rake it first. The lawn will benefit if you rake out the thatch, this is the term used to describe all the dead bits of grass and moss that has accumulated amongst the grass. This particular job can be done with a traditional spring-tine rake or if you have a large area a motorized scarifier is the answer; we have a good selection of both within our extensive tool range. Moss can be a sign of bad drainage so if you didn't manage to aerate it in the autumn do it now.
• Seed sowing outside can begin later this month. After all your hard work digging during the winter the soil should now be broken down to a fine tilth to create a good seed bed. If the soil sticks to your boots it's a sure sign that the soil is too wet to be worked and is best left until the conditions are right. This applies to all seedbeds whether they are lawns, annual flowers or vegetables. The range of seeds at Aylett Nurseries is vast. We stock Thompson & Morgan's, Unwin's, Sutton's, Robinsons special vegetable seeds and John Chambers range of wild flower seeds, all displayed in a designated area for easy selection.
• Early potatoes can be planted as soon as the weather permits. if you haven't purchased yours yet you aren't too late we still have a good selection. For our planting instructions see' Seed Potatoes' on the home page. Onion sets and shallots should also be planted this month; plant the sets in rows 10-15cm apart on well prepared soil.
• If you are intending to grow crops in a heated greenhouse purchase your grow bags now and place them in the greenhouse, they will warm up and give your crops a head start.
• The border can look very bare at this time of year. For instant colour pop a pot of ready-planted bulbs into a spare space, we grow a huge range for just this purpose; it really works to chase away those winter blues.