Top March Garden Tips: Getting Your Landscape Ready for Spring

Top March Garden Tips

March marks the official start of spring, bringing longer days, warmer temperatures, and the perfect opportunity to get your garden in shape for the growing season. With plants waking up from dormancy and new growth emerging, now is the time to tackle essential gardening tasks. Follow these top March garden tips to prepare your landscape for a thriving and productive year.

1. Clean Up Your Garden and Prepare for Growth

As winter fades away, take time to clear out debris and refresh your garden beds.

  • Remove Dead Plants and Leaves: Clear out any leftover leaves, dead plants, or winter damage to make room for new growth.
  • Weed Early: Weeds start growing as temperatures rise, so pulling them now will prevent them from taking over.
  • Refresh Mulch: Adding a new layer of mulch helps retain moisture and suppress weeds as spring rains arrive.

A well-prepped garden bed will create the perfect foundation for healthy plants throughout the season.

Top March Garden Tips2. Top March Garden Tips: Prune and Trim for Healthy Growth

March is an excellent time to prune trees, shrubs, and perennials before they fully leaf out.

  • Trim Summer-Flowering Shrubs: Prune butterfly bush, hydrangeas, and roses to promote strong, healthy blooms later in the season.
  • Cut Back Perennials: Remove dead growth from ornamental grasses, daylilies, and other perennials to encourage fresh spring shoots.
  • Shape Fruit Trees: Finish pruning apple, pear, and other fruit trees before they start budding.

Avoid pruning spring-blooming shrubs like azaleas and forsythia until after they flower.

3. Start Planting Cool-Season Vegetables and Flowers

March is the perfect time to start planting hardy crops and flowers that thrive in cooler temperatures.

  • Plant Vegetables: Lettuce, spinach, peas, radishes, and carrots can be sown directly into the garden.
  • Add Spring Flowers: Pansies, violas, snapdragons, and primroses add early color and withstand chilly nights.
  • Transplant Seedlings: If you started seeds indoors, begin hardening them off for outdoor planting.

By following these top March garden tips, you’ll enjoy an early harvest and beautiful blooms well into spring.

4. Top March Garden Tips: Fertilize and Feed Your Lawn and Garden

As plants wake up, they need nutrients to fuel their growth.

  • Fertilize Your Lawn: Apply a slow-release fertilizer to strengthen grass roots before the growing season.
  • Feed Perennials and Shrubs: Use compost or organic fertilizers to give plants a nutrient boost.
  • Amend Soil: Test your soil and add necessary amendments like lime or compost to improve fertility.

A well-fed garden will produce healthier plants, flowers, and vegetables throughout the year.

5. Plan for the Growing Season Ahead

March is a great time to finalize your gardening plans and prepare for a productive year.

  • Order Seeds and Plants: Make sure you have everything needed for summer planting.
  • Divide Perennials: If your perennials are getting overcrowded, divide and replant them to promote better growth.
  • Check Irrigation Systems: Test sprinklers, soaker hoses, and rain barrels to ensure they’re ready for the season.

By following these top March garden tips, you’ll set your landscape up for success and enjoy a beautiful, productive garden all season long. A little preparation now will lead to big rewards in the months to come!

Allentuck Landscaping Company is Your Residential Landscape Company

Phone: 301-515-1900 

At Allentuck Landscaping Company, our mission is to create beautiful environments for people to enjoy. We see landscaping as a way to improve people’s lives.

The Allentuck Landscaping Company team has been delighting homeowners in Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia for over 28 years with our turnkey approach to landscape design, installation, construction and maintenance. Most companies try to serve many types of customers at the same time; homeowners, shopping centers, office buildings and the list goes on. At Allentuck Landscaping Company, we focus on one customer, you, the homeowner. We have a singular focus on bringing you the best landscape practices, the best customer service, and the best value for your home.

Services Provide – Master Landscape Plans, Complete Maintenance Programs, Plantings, Patios, Walkways, Retaining Walls, Water Features, Outdoor Lighting, Outdoor Kitchens, Trellises & Pergolas, Irrigation Systems, Drainage Solutions, Grading & Sodding. Fire Pits & Fire Places, Spring Clean Ups, Decks, Fences

Areas Served – Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville, North Potomac, Darnestown, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Travilah, Damascus, Boyds, Clarksburg, Ijamsville, Urbana, Frederick and Washington DC.

Allentuck Landscaping Co. is a proud member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals and MyLandscapeAcademy.

Allentuck Landscaping Co.
13711 Travilah Road
Rockville, Maryland 20850
301-515-1900

How Do I Fix Bad Drainage in My Yard?

Water should be a blessing for your yard — not a headache. But when every rainstorm leaves behind puddles, soggy spots, or even erosion, it’s a clear sign there’s a bigger issue. Bad drainage in my yard is something no homeowner wants to deal with, but the good news is, it’s fixable. With the right strategies, you can protect your landscape, your home, and your peace of mind. Let’s dive into exactly how to spot the problem, understand what’s causing

READ MORE »

Should You Aerate Your Lawn in the Spring?

Your lawn took a beating this winter. Soggy soil, heavy snow, kids and pets running across frozen turf — it all adds up to compacted soil and tired grass roots. As the weather warms in Montgomery County, many homeowners start asking: Should you aerate your lawn in the spring? The answer isn’t a simple yes or no — it depends on your grass type, the condition of your lawn, and what you’re hoping to achieve. Aeration is one of the

READ MORE »

Keys To An Outstanding Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens have come a long way. What used to be a basic grill tucked onto the patio has evolved into a full-blown extension of the home—blending cooking, dining, and entertaining into one unforgettable experience. If you’re dreaming about backyard meals, sunset dinners, or hosting the ultimate summer party, it all starts with one thing: the keys to an outstanding outdoor kitchen. Here’s how to make sure your space isn’t just good—it’s exceptional. Think Like a Chef (and a Host)

READ MORE »

When Is It Safe To Plant Summer Annuals In Montgomery County, MD?

You’ve just walked into the garden center and—bam!—there they are. Bright, bold, blooming summer annuals lined up like candy in a store window. It’s tempting to grab a cart and start planting the moment the first warm day arrives. But hold on. In Montgomery County, MD, timing is everything. Planting too early can lead to disappointment—wilted flowers, stunted growth, or worse, a surprise cold snap that wipes out all your hard work. On the other hand, waiting just a bit

READ MORE »

5 Mulch Mistakes To Avoid (And How To Do It Right)

Mulch is one of the easiest ways to make your yard look polished while doing some serious behind-the-scenes work—like holding moisture in the soil, stopping weeds from popping up, and keeping roots cool. But here’s the catch: mulch mistakes are more common than most homeowners realize. And when mulch is used the wrong way, it can damage the very plants you’re trying to protect. Whether you’ve mulched for years or are just getting started, avoiding these five common errors can

READ MORE »

Lawn Mowing Height: Why It Matters More Than You Think

What Is The Correct Lawn Mowing Height For My Lawn? One of the most common questions we hear from both clients and homeowners is, “What’s the best lawn mowing height?” It’s a great question—and one that’s often misunderstood. Many people believe that mowing the lawn shorter means they’ll have to mow less often and that the lawn will look sharper and cleaner. But the truth is, mowing too short can actually harm your grass and lead to bigger problems down

READ MORE »