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March 2025 | Phonebox Magazine 45As March comes around once more, we can start to peer outside at our gardens and look forward again to a brighter and more hopeful time.Spring signifi es longer days, shorter nights and a general warming up of the air. And with that, gardens start to gain colour and bloom as the %u2018slower%u2019 months of the year depart.It%u2019s a time to start thinking about getting seeds in the ground for the summer%u2019s fl owerbeds, which will probably involve some digging and fertilising to get the soil ready, to support climbers that might have blown loose in the wind and to clear the garden paths ready for ground creepers to smother them again. In other words, it%u2019s sowing and growing time!SOIL PREPARATIONSpring is the perfect time to prepare your soil for planting. Have a good tidy round, removing weeds and grass and add in some quality compost or manure to give the earth a boost.PLANT EARLY VEGETABLES March and April are good months to sow and plant hardier vegetables %u2013 all of which can be grown outside. The more tender vegetables that are susceptible to frost and cold should be germinated and grown under glass in a greenhouse or conservatory. They can go outside later.FERTILISER FEEDINGFeed your garden shrubs and plants by sprinkling a general fertiliser around their base. Some plants, such as camellias and magnolias, need specialist mixtures. A garden shop can help. Give roses a spray of insect and disease controller.SWEET PEASThe next two months are also the best to sow and plant sweet peas. They like moisture, so plant them in a wellirrigated area. Organic matter, such as mulch, can improve moisture retention. Ensure it%u2019s not too cold.LAWN CARENow is an important time for your longsuff ering lawn. It has had a tough few months of frost, rain and general poor conditions, and now is the time for it to %u2018come to life%u2019 again. Remove debris and rotting leaves with a rake, aerate it to help root growth and add in some fertiliser if necessary. Regular mowing will promote growth as long as the lawn is not sodden when you start.JOBS FOR THE GARDENHardy vegetables you can sow outdoors:These are vegetables that can be sown into fertilised, ventilated soil and left alone, even when it is still quite cold at night. %u2022 Broad Beans%u2022 Carrots%u2022 Spinach%u2022 Potatoes%u2022 Turnips%u2022 Radishes%u2022 LettuceStart these vegetables indoors:If you have a greenhouse there are several plants that can be sown for early summer. These will also grow inside your home if you don%u2019t have a glass house.%u2022 Squash%u2022 Kohl Rabi%u2022 Tomatoes%u2022 Aubergines%u2022 Cucumbers%u2022 Celery%u2022 Sweet peppers