When March arrives you should see robins,sparrows, and blackbirds flying across your garden with twigs leaves and moss that they are using to build their nests. I have started to help them by leaving moss, twigs and dried leaves by the feeders. Put out some nest boxes. Choose somewhere sheltered and you will soon have a family of birds in your garden.

March is the best month to plant as the soil warms up and plants are now still dormant. They wont mind being moved.  You could also split perennials.  I have recently split my hostas and repotted them spreading coffee grounds around the plants to stop slugs and snails. I find this the best way to protect new shoots. If you don’t have coffee grounds  you can ask at the costa coffee shops who will gladly supply you with a large bag. The grounds are also a nitrogen packed fertilier which you can sprinkle around all plants and shrubs.

Lawns can be mowed on dry days and spiked before spreading a spring nitrogen fertiliser. Make sure you have the blades set high –  the preparation you do now will ensure a good lawn for the summer. You could also fill in any hollows with soil and spread with lawn seed. The lawn is my priority in March. This ensures that by late May it’s looking its best .

All being well I am going to open my garden again this year for the U3A with all donations to prostate cancer research.  I hope to do a  joint open day with a local  gardener who, like myself, grows tropical plants  .

Norman Conway.