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March is the month named after Mars, the Roman God of War.  So March in your patch is an excellent time to wage war on it. Be it ripping out the weeds, mulching up a storm, or popping in a plethora of plants, March is the ultimate time to launch a full scale (but well planned) attack on you patch! So, all you weekend warriors … March into action! 

Climate-Resilient Garden Tips

What to do this month to keep your garden healthy, productive and ready for the seasonal shift — as summer heat lingers and cooler days begin to settle in, these simple steps will help your patch adapt, recharge and thrive into autumn and beyond. Click here to explore our Climate Resilient Gardening Hub for more climate-smart gardening advice.

Support Biodiversity

Autumn is the best time to plant most native plants; they’ll get a chance to settle in and grow a little before winter arrives, and will have healthy, robust root systems to carry them through their first summer. If planting for wildlife isn’t your thing, edible natives including mountain pepper, lemon myrtle and midyim berry can all be planted this month.  

Don’t forget to dead head your agapanthus If you have them. Left to go to seed, agapanthus make a tasty snack for birds and the dried seed pods tend to behave like a premium firework, spraying seeds over your garden. When seeds make their way into stormwater systems, creeks, parks or bushland they establish large, spreading clumps. Agapanthus are a certified invasive weed in many areas. So if you do have them, you need to manage them responsibly. 

Food-Growing Resilience

Once all the fruit has been harvested, prune stone fruit trees for overall size to set them up for success next year. Branches should be pruned to just above a double or triple bud. Clean up all fallen fruit and remove ‘mummies’ (dried old fruit) from the trees to prevent Qld fruit fly from breeding. If fruit fly has been an issue in your garden, DO NOT compost the fruit. Solarise it to kill all larvae, or bag it and put it in your general waste bin. 

If you netted your trees, remove the nets once the last fruit has been harvested so the nets don’t pose a risk to wildlife, and make any repairs now so they can be reused next year. If your netting is not wildlife-friendly, check with your local council to see if they offer a program to replace old netting with wildlife-friendly versions. 

Pests & Diseases

Citrus gall wasp and citrus leaf miner are two of the most common pests on citrus trees. Feeding your citrus trees with a general purpose fertiliser or a handful of aged chicken manure per square metre now will encourage ‘slow and steady’ growth. Applying a small amount of nutrients each season rather than just fertilising in spring helps avoid the lush new growth that’s irresistible to citrus gall wasp and leaf miners. 

Garden Tasks & Planting Guides by Region

Warm Areas

Generally north from about Coffs Harbour and across to Geraldton, these gardens rarely experience frost (or only very light frost), need extra protection for sun-sensitive plants, and benefit from heat-tolerant vegetables.

  • Edibles to plant now – Okay, it’s still pretty warm out there, but you could certainly consider popping inthe following incredible edibles, especially towards the tail end of the month. Consider cabbage, Asian greens, rocket, silverbeet, cauliflower, beans, peas, spring onions, leeks, radish or cucumber. Whack some lettuce in but consider popping them under a shade cloth tent if the days are still quite warm. 
  • Herbs – Hop into the herb patch with coriander (try a slow bolting variety if it’s still very warm), sweet basil, lemon grass and oregano.
  • Feeling fruity? –  Go Carmen Miranda with some strawberries, watermelon, citrus, rockmelon, pineapple and passionfruit. ‘Ave a go with an avocado! 
  • Flowers – Pretty up the patch with these flowering fancies- marigolds, sunflowers and pansies, cornflowers, violas, snapdragons, stock, verbena and lavender (non-invasive varieties of course!). Popping these in around your veggies will give some colour and interest to the patch, and act as beneficial insect attractors! 
  • Fertilise – Plants feel the need for a feed at this time of year. A seaweed tea, or any low environmental impact liquid fertiliser, is perfect for giving them a kick start as they establish. Apply to the soil early in the morning and in the concentrations mentioned on the packet.
  • Weeding – Cut down the competition between your tasty treats and these space invaders, and tidy up your patch. It may sound tedious, but it’s incredibly rewarding!
  • Mulching – Top up mulch on your veggie patches, herb gardens and ornamental beds, especially important for weed suppression at this time of year. A hot tip is to mulch after watering the patch, to a depth of about 7cm. Keep mulch clear of plant stems….especially young seedlings. Choose a sustainable, low environmental impact mulch, one that will enrich your soil as it breaks down.
  • Water Smarter – Water smarter at this time of year. Water first thing in the morning, and instead of quickie irrigation, a nice, deep drink a couple of times a week is far more beneficial!
  • Edible Natives – Give warrigal greens, river mint, and bush basil from seed a go. These leafy natives are great for salads, stir-fries, teas, and sauces. Plant finger lime, Kakadu plum, and muntries as seedlings; they provide tangy, tart, or sweet-spicy flavors perfect for dressings, desserts, jams, smoothies, and drinks. Make sure to protect sun-sensitive seedlings with shade and mulch well to keep the soil moist during lingering warm days.
  • Planning Ahead – Begin to prepare your potato beds now….you’ll be glad you did come April! Consider a green manure crop to add some life and love to an overworked patch. At this time of year, try millet, oats, lupins or field peas. This will improve your soil incredibly, and, as a bit of forward planning, you’ll find it well worth the effort! 

Cool to Cold Areas

(Frequent frosts and cooler summers. Include Tasmania, the southern highlands of NSW, the ACT, southern Victoria, and small pockets of southern SA. Plants need protection from frost and may struggle with heat stress during occasional hot spells.)

  • Edibles to plant now –Whack these tasty wonders into your Yummy Yard this month: Chinese cabbage, spinach, tatsoi, rocket, silverbeet, broccoli, leeks and lettuces! 
  • Herbs –Tasty herbs in the ‘burbs that are ready to roll include coriander and basil. You could give mint and lemon balm a go as well, but be careful to contain them, otherwise they can take over! 
  • Flowers – Add some colour and movement to the patch, and pop in some of these little pretties- dianthus,cornflower, pansy, viola, echinacea, stock, verbena and lupins. Having these around your veggies will give some interest to the patch, and act as beneficial insect attractors! 
  • Fertilise – Plants feel the need for a feed at this time of year. A seaweed tea, or any low environmental impact liquid fertiliser, is perfect for the seedlings you’ve just popped in. Apply to the soil early in the morning, and in the concentrations mentioned on the packet. 
  • Weeding – Weeding is an awesome job to do at this time of year. Cut down the competition between your tasty treats and these space invaders, and tidy up your patch. It may sound tedious, but it’s incredibly rewarding! 
  • Mulching – Top up mulch on your veggie patches, herb gardens and ornamental beds, especially important for weed suppression at this time of year. A hot tip is to mulch after watering the patch, to a depth of about 7cm. Keep mulch clear of plant stems… especially young seedlings. Choose a low environmental impact mulch, one that will enrich your soil as it breaks down. 
  • Water Smarter – Water smarter at this time of year. Water first thing in the morning, and instead of quickie irrigation, a nice, deep drink a couple of times a week is far more beneficial!
  • Edible Natives – March is perfect for sowing leafy natives like warrigal greens and native celery for salads, stir-fries, and soups. Plant mountain pepper, finger lime, and lemon myrtle as seedlings; their peppery, tangy, tart, and citrusy flavors will enhance sauces, teas, dressings, desserts, and jams. Protect seedlings from frost, water deeply, and mulch well to help plants establish before the cooler months arrive.

Temperate Zones

(Occasional winter frosts, especially inland. Include much of southern Queensland, southern NSW, Victoria, inland South Australia, and parts of WA. Summers can get hot, but plants may still need some shade on extreme UV days.)

  • Edibles to plant now –there are a heap of things you could pop in to the patch this March. Why not try cabbage, Asian greens, lettuce, rocket, tatsoi, silverbeet, spring onions, spinach, carrots.
  • Herbs – It’s time to get happy with herbs, so try some parsley, basil, coriander (try a slow bolting variety if it’s still pretty warm), rosemary, marjoram and thyme. You could give mint and lemon balm a go as well, but be careful to contain them as they can take over! 
  • Flowers – Why not try some lovely flowering stuff in your patch as well, like: cornflower, calendula, dianthus, pansies, viola, snapdragons, stock, nasturtium, verbena and marigolds. These guys are great at attracting pollinators and beneficial insects to your patch, and I reckon they look tops as well. 
  • Fertilise – Plants feel the need for a feed at this time of year. A seaweed tea or low environmental impact liquid fertiliser is perfect, especially for the seedlings shoved in this month. Apply to the soil early in the morning, and in the concentrations mentioned on the packet. 
  • Weeding – Weeding is an awesome job to do at this time of year. Cut down the competition between your tasty treats and these space invaders, and tidy up your patch. It may sound tedious, but it’s incredibly rewarding! 
  • Mulching –  Top up mulch on your veggie patches, herb gardens and ornamental beds, especially important for weed suppression at this time of year. A hot tip is to mulch after watering the patch, to a depth of about 7cm. Keep mulch clear of plant stems….especially young seedlings. Choose a low environmental impact mulch, one that will enrich your soil as it breaks down. 
  • Water Smarter – Water smarter at this time of year. Water first thing in the morning, and instead of quickie irrigation, a nice, deep drink a couple of times a week is far more beneficial! 
  • Edible Natives – March is a good time to sow fast-growing leafy natives like warrigal greens, native celery, sea celery, and bush tomatoes. These will give you quick, flavorful harvests for salads, soups, and chutneys. Plant riberry, finger lime, and lemon myrtle as seedlings; their tart, tangy, or citrusy flavors are ideal for jams, dressings, teas, marinades, and desserts. Give young plants some protection from extreme sun and keep mulch and water levels consistent as the weather cools.

Of course, this is just a rough guide, and many of you will find your situation varies from the above listing, due to microclimates created in your garden, location in relation to your nearest major city, extremes of weather (Mother Nature does like to keep us on our toes) and garden type. 

But the one thing that remains the same for all zones and regions is this: start out the year as you mean to go on, and give your patch some much needed love! So, grab a cool beverage, slip, slop slap, and spend some time under your favourite tree, admiring your patch! 

Information sources: 
Bagnall, Lyn, Easy organic gardening and moon planting, published by Scribe Publications, VIC.
McFarlane, Annette, Organic Vegetable Gardening, published by ABC Books, Sydney, NSW. 

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