March gardening jobs

Change the beds

It’s switchover time for vegetable crops. Summer varieties are finishing and cool-season favourites will soon be taking their place. That means preparing the beds for their new occupants. Remove remnants of warm-season crops, roots and all. Get rid of weeds, making sure they don’t leave behind any seeds, and blend in compost and organic fertiliser. If the soil level has dropped, add more soil to restore the level, mixing it in with what’s already there.

Make a run for strawberries

By March, strawberry plants will usually be producing plenty of runners – perfect for propagating your next crop! Instead of snipping them straight off (which can stress them), plant the runners in small pots while they’re still attached to the mother plant. Once they establish a few healthy roots in the pots, cut the ‘apron strings’. Water well and add a little fertiliser to help the young plants grow strongly. When they look well-rounded, plant them in the ground, or in larger containers.

Autumn care for natives

• Take cuttings of favourite grevilleas, pot into well-drained mix, and keep in a sheltered position. The new plants should develop roots by the time spring arrives.
• Lift crowded clumping plants such as lomandra, dianella, Libertia species and kangaroo grass. Remove dead material, divide plants into sections with several healthy roots and shoots, and plant in a suitable spot. Water well to eliminate air pockets around the roots.
• In frost-free areas, prune back native hibiscus and Alyogyne species by about one third. Fertilise with a native plant food to promote new growth. In areas that experience frost, wait until spring to do this pruning job.
• National Eucalypt Day on March 23 is the day to celebrate the versatility of eucalypts and, ideally, to investigate a suitable variety that can be planted in your garden. If space is limited, look for dwarf varieties, such as ‘Euky Dwarf’, that can be grown in good-sized pots.

Refresh potted herbs

Thyme, oregano, mint and parsley in pots tend to look a little shabby by the end of summer, but a little attention now will bring them back to their best as we head into the cooler months. First, give the root ball a good soaking. Plunge the pot into a bucket of water and leave for 10 minutes or so until the bubbles stop coming to the surface. Then, pull the plant out of its pot, loosen the root ball and re-pot into a larger container using fresh premium potting mix, with fertiliser added. Trim off dead foliage and water in with seaweed solution.

Words by Judy Horton