Gardening Tips for March in Bolton-le-Sands

Gardening Tips for March

March is a pivotal, busy month for gardening in Bolton-le-Sands as the soil begins to warm and the garden wakes up. With its coastal location near Morecambe Bay, gardeners should be mindful of late frosts and winds, using fleece or cloches to protect young plants.

Here is a guide to gardening tasks in March in the Bolton-le-Sands area:
1. Sowing and Planting
  • Vegetables (Outdoors): If the soil is dry enough, direct sow broad beans, carrots, parsnips, beetroot, onions, lettuce, radish, spinach, and turnip.
  • Vegetables (Under Cover): Start tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, peppers, and celery in a greenhouse or on a windowsill.
  • Potatoes: Start chitting early potatoes. In milder, sheltered spots, early potatoes can be planted out towards the end of the month.
  • Fruit: Plant bare-root or container-grown soft fruit bushes such as blackcurrants, gooseberries, and raspberries.
  • Flowers: Plant summer-flowering bulbs like gladioli, lilies, and dahlias in pots to get them established before planting out in May. Sow hardy annuals such as poppies and nigella.
2. Pruning and Maintenance
  • Roses and Shrubs: Prune roses, late-flowering clematis, and hardy fuchsias.
  • Winter Shrubs: Cut back dogwoods (Cornus) and willows (Salix) hard to encourage new, brightly coloured stems for next winter.
  • Perennials: Tidy up herbaceous borders by cutting back dead foliage from last year. Divide established, congested perennials to create new plants for free.
  • Mulching: Apply a thick layer of garden compost or manure to beds and borders to suppress weeds and retain moisture for the summer.
3. Lawn Care
  • First Cut: If the weather is mild, give the lawn a light first trim, setting the mower blades high.
  • Aeration: Aerate compacted lawns by sticking a fork in the ground and wiggling it to improve drainage.
  • Moss: Rake out moss and thatch to encourage healthy growth.
4. Local Resources and Events
  • Seed Swap: The Bolton-le-Sands & District Floral and Horticultural Society is hosting a Seed Swap at Carnforth Library from March 22nd to April 2nd.
  • Garden Centres: Bay View Garden Centre in Bolton-le-Sands is well-stocked for spring, offering seeds, bulbs, and new spring plants.
  • Community Farming: Claver Hill Community Farm in nearby Lancaster is hosting a Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop on March 13th, 2026.
5. Wildlife and Pests
  • Slug Patrol: As new shoots emerge, take measures to control slugs and snails.
  • Bird Care: Continue feeding birds, as March is a busy nesting season. Use high-energy food like suet and sunflower seeds.
  • Pond Maintenance: If you have a pond, check it as frogs will be active and laying spawn.
Key Tip for the Coast: If the soil feels cold and clammy to the touch, delay direct sowing outside until it warms up, otherwise seeds will rot.