Green-fingered Brits are being issued an essential alert this March, as horticultural experts reveal the one non-negotiable task that could make or break your garden's summer display. With the UK's notoriously fickle spring weather, a sudden late frost can wipe out months of careful cultivation in a single, frigid night.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is urging all gardeners to prioritise this critical job immediately. The key? A protective layer of mulch around your most vulnerable plants.
Why This Simple Task Is So Vital
While March brings longer days and the first signs of spring, it also harbours a hidden danger: unpredictable and sharp frosts. These cold snaps can severely damage new shoots, tender buds, and emerging perennials that have been coaxed out of dormancy by milder days.
Applying a generous layer of organic mulch—such as well-rotted compost, bark chips, or leaf mould—acts like a duvet for your soil. It performs a dual function: insulating plant roots from sudden temperature drops and locking in valuable moisture during potentially dry, sunny spells.
Your Quick March Gardening Checklist
To ensure your garden thrives, focus on these essential actions this month:
- Mulch Beds & Borders: Smother weeds and protect roots by applying a 5-7cm layer around plants, avoiding direct contact with stems.
- Hold Back on Tender Plants: Resist the urge to plant out summer bedding or vegetables like tomatoes and beans. They are highly susceptible to frost damage.
- Keep Fleece Handy: Have horticultural fleece or cloches at the ready to drape over shrubs and budding plants on nights when frost is forecast.
- Pots Are Particularly Vulnerable: Move container plants to a sheltered spot against a wall or, ideally, into a greenhouse or cold frame.
The Reward for Your Diligence
Taking these preventative steps now is a small investment of time that pays enormous dividends. By shielding your plants from the last gasp of winter, you safeguard the promise of a lush, colourful, and productive garden throughout the summer months. Heed this expert advice and watch your garden flourish while others are left counting the cost of a late frost.
