Today

Things to do in the garden in March, courtesy of online garden expert Shoot.

Feed roses

Most modern, highly flowered roses need regular applications of plant food to reach their full size and to produce abundant flowers (as opposed to many of the 'species' roses which need less nutrition).

In spring, around March, feed roses with a rose fertiliser, especially on light sandy soils. Roses prefer a slow-release plant food that is high in phosphorus.

For ever-blooming roses, you should feed regularly with a water-soluble plant food. Not only will regular feedings provide better blooms, but also a healthy, well-fed plant is better able to resist attacks of pests and diseases and to survive severe winter cold.

Effective feeding will be much easier if you plant them in the right soil conditions. Roses prefer a nice mix of sandy and loamy soil. The rate and frequency of plant food applications and the appropriate plant food to use depend on the type of garden soil. Plants in sandy soil need frequent applications; those in a heavy soil may not need as many.

It is also a good idea to follow up with a mulch after feeding in the same month.

Divide and replant clumps in early spring

To propagate, divide and replant the roots of crowded clumps in autumn or early spring. Dividing is done for three main reasons - to control a plant's size, to rejuvenate it, and to propagate it. Some plants are very vigorous and can crowd out neighbouring plants if left alone. While others begin to decline in vigour if not divided, and therefore benefit greatly division.

With the mass of roots exposed, identify a spot where an offshoot can be separated from the plant near the base, or where the plant can be split into two or more equal parts.

A variety of tools can be used to assist in dividing plants. Many people use a sharp knife, scissors or garden pruners. A special plant-dividing knife with a serrated blade and two forks are ideal for dividing most types of plants. These tools are available from garden centres.

If using a knife, use the tip of the blade to carefully pry an offshoot-section loose at a natural dividing-point at the plant base. With the separation made at the base, carefully pull apart the sections with two forks. The divided sections can then be re-potted or replanted individually. Add potting soil around the roots and water the plant to get it started. Place the newly separated plants in a shaded area for a few days to allow it to recover from the shock of the separation procedure.

Do not prune summer flowering shrubs hard - remove any deadheads from last year

Shrubs in this group flower from mid-to-late summer on the previous year's growth and Hydrangeas are typical of this group. They require little attention but regular pruning enhances flowering in most cases. The old flower heads are best left on the plant over winter as they will provide some frost protection for the rather tender growth buds below them.

Watch out for strong fat buds, which are most likely to produce flowers, and cut the relevant shoots back to those leaving about 2 cm of wood to allow for excessive drying out of the cut surface. Wispy shoots can be taken out right from the base as well as one or two of the oldest stems depending on the overall size of the plant.