What to plant in March for instant impact
The definitive guide on what to plant now, to enjoy now.
Like the bees, we're buzzing. Spring's in the air. Can you smell the sweet, promising scent of longer (and warmer) days? With the signs of a new season all around us, it’s such a pleasure to get out in the garden.
There’s never been a better time to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty, so we’ve mustered up the definitive guide on what you can plant now, to enjoy now. Whether you’ve got an acre of land, a little urban patch or a balcony prime for container gardening, you can choose from:
- Flowering bedding plants
- Flowering bulbs
- Flowering shrubs
- Foliage shrubs
Scroll down for our top picks for instant impact plants this month.
FLOWERING BED PLANTS
Bedding plants are ideal if you want instant colour. They’ll make any corner bright and cheery and they’re super versatile; they’re as effective in garden beds and borders as they are in containers and hanging baskets. You’ll often see bedding plants in multipacks and cellular trays, ready for planting. Here are some of our favourites for exciting spring displays.
Hellebore Maestro
Why we love it:
- Flowers as big as roses
- Ivory and pale purple flowers in abundance above handsome leaves
- Almost indestructible. Happy in sun or shade and most types of soil
- Comes back every year
Primrose
Why we love it
- Puts an instant smile on your face
- Tough little cookies - survive whatever winter throws at them
- In a range of colours to suit your style
- Comes back again next year
Pansies
Why we love it:
- Create a kaleidoscope of colours
- Neat and compact plants, perfect for pots and small spaces
- Accompany early-spring flowering bulbs like crocuses and narcissi
FLOWERING BULBS
March is a big month for bulbs - this is the time of year they start flowering. Some of the most popular spring flowers were once bulbs. Lots of gardeners like to plant their bulbs in autumn, but you can cheat the system! Simply get bulbs in Spring once they’ve flowered and plant them as you would bedding plants. Plant them in groups in the ground or in containers for a seriously colourful display. Plus, they’re pretty hardy and can withstand the occasional harsh weather.
Our favourite bulbs that are in flower in March are: daffodils, scilla, glory-of-the-snow and crocuses. Plus, if the weather’s been mild, these gorgeous flowering bulbs will be bountiful. Here’s all you need to know about our top picks:
Daffodil
Why we love it:
- The epitome of the on-coming spring
- Cute and cheery
- Make lovely vase flowers for your home
- Attract bees waking up after winter
Scilla
Why we love it:
- Lovely little star-shaped blue flowers in big numbers
- Happy flowering in big tribes under trees that not yet in leaf
- Come back again for a second year
Crocus
Why we love it:
- Cheer you up in an instant
- Come in a wide range of colours
- Like little illuminating lights poking out the ground
Glory-of-the-snow - Chionodoxa
Why we love it:
- Available in sky-blue shades or baby-pink
- Pop up from the ground while other flowers are still sleeping
- Fully hardy (meaning ‘tough’) even in harsh winters
- Happy in sun or partial shade (meaning you get either morning sun or afternoon sun)
FLOWERING SHRUBS
We’ve got some good news; planting shrubs isn’t as hard as you might think (you can read our guide here) and they should be welcome additions to your garden, especially those that flower.
They create focal points and most importantly, have a wow-factor that isn’t always achievable with bedding plants or bulbs. The good news for those of us with only balcony or terrace space, there are shrub varieties you can grow in containers, like the Camellia. Here are some of our favourites for this time of year:
Magnolia stellata
Why we love it:
- Big star-shaped white flowers on naked stems for maximum effect
- Shapely and compact little garden tree
- Attractive spotted bark with zesty scent
- Suitable for small gardens and big gardens alike
Salix Kilmarnock
Why we love it:
- Happy in damp and wet soils
- Wows you with pretty and tactile catkins in early spring on naked stems
- Branches grow up and over like a weeping willow
Top Tip: Pick off the individual flowers on your plant when they have withered or look damaged by the weather. Doing this is a process called ‘deadheading’ - it can help keep the whole plant healthy and good-looking and produce more lovely flowers.
FOLIAGE SHRUBS
A clear dry day in March is ideal for planting evergreen foliage shrubs - they’re tough enough to hold their own if Jack Frost pays another visit. What’s more, they’ll add instant colour, texture and height to your border or terrace.
Aucuba japonica
Why we love it:
- Really low-maintenance after planting in a good soil and watering well
- Year-long green and yellow glossy spotty leaves
- Berries in the autumn sometimes; more likely if you have more than one in the garden
Pittosporum
Why we love it:
- Well-behaved, compact and bushy, perfect for pots and in the ground
- Flowers in spring to add to the impact
- Low-maintenance when in a sheltered spot
Japanese Maples
Why we love it
- Bright green leaves in spring and summer, turning scarlet in September
- Suitable for even the smallest of gardens
- Grow in containers
You can take a look at our ‘What to Plant Now Edit’ for a collection of the most up-to-date plants you can enjoy now.
