Spring is officially here, and gardeners across the country are eager to get their hands dirty! This week has brought exciting developments in the gardening world:
Gardeners’ World is celebrating its return to television this month with a special milestone – 2025 marks Monty Don’s 20th anniversary presenting the show and 15 years of sharing his garden, Longmeadow, with viewers.
The program returns to screens every Friday evening beginning March 14.
The highly anticipated March 22 issue of Garden News magazine is now available, packed with practical gardening tips, grow-your-own advice, and expert guides to your favorite plants.
This week’s edition also features excellent money-saving offers perfect for budget-conscious gardeners.
BBC Gardeners’ World has launched an exciting new campaign for 2025 called “Make a Metre Matter,” encouraging gardeners to transform one square meter of outdoor space in an environmentally friendly way.
The initiative will be featured at BBC Gardeners’ World Live (June 12-15), where Nick Bailey’s headline show garden will demonstrate creative ways to transform a small space for maximum ecological benefit.
Money-Saving Tips
1. Start Seeds Now for Summer Blooms
According to gardening experts at the Royal Horticultural Society, March is the perfect time to sow seeds for summer-flowering annuals like cosmos, marigolds, sunflowers, and zinnias.
These economical plants create maximum impact for minimal cost and will fill gaps in your beds and borders with gorgeous color.
2. Take Spring Cuttings for Free Plants
Social media gardening sensation Anya Lautenbach, author of “The Money-Saving Gardener,” recommends taking easy-to-root cuttings now when “everything just wants to grow.” Simply place cuttings around the edges of existing pots and transplant them once rooted for free new plants.
3. Repurpose Supermarket Produce
Don’t throw away those leftover vegetables! The RHS suggests sprouting leftover supermarket produce such as onions and carrots.
Plant supermarket onions for large, purple, globe-like summer flowers that attract bees, while carrots grown on will produce feathery, insect-friendly flower heads.
4. Buy Plug Plants
For those who don’t have time or space to start seeds indoors, buying small plug plants and growing them on can be economical.
Plugs will grow swiftly when potted up in spring and cost significantly less than larger, more established plants.
5. Flash Sale Alert!
Planning a garden day out? BBC Gardeners’ World Live (June 12-15, 2025) is currently offering 25% off standard tickets in their spring flash sale.
Use code SHAREJOY before midnight Tuesday, March 25 to secure your discounted tickets to this major gardening event.
Practical Gardening Tips for March
1. Divide Perennials Now
According to the latest issue of BBC Gardeners’ World, March is the perfect time to split hostas as they’re just starting to grow.
The magazine advises that dividing them now, when shoots are just appearing above ground but not yet unfurled, results in the least water stress for the plants.
2. Watch for Garden Pests
In his weekly garden update, gardening expert Neil Sperry warns gardeners to be on the lookout for aphids on tender new growth.
You can wash them off with a hard stream of water, or use organic or general-purpose insecticides if needed.
Also watch for snails and slugs becoming active as temperatures warm.
3. Start Summer Vegetable Gardens
For gardeners in warmer regions, it’s time to plant warm-season vegetables.
Sperry reminds tomato growers that small to medium-sized tomato varieties perform better in hot climates than large-fruiting types, which struggle to set fruit in high temperatures.
4. Mow Regularly to Control Weeds
Regular lawn mowing is one of the most effective ways to control spring weeds.
Many fast-growing spring weeds will be discouraged by frequent cutting and will fade away without the need for herbicides.
Upcoming Garden Events
Mark your calendars for these exciting garden events happening in the coming weeks:
- Daffodil Bloom at Hever Castle (ongoing through March): See 80,000 daffodil bulbs in bloom at this historic Kent location, with garden tours and floral displays inside the castle.
- Kitchen Garden Workshop (March 26): Get hands-on experience at Sculpture by the Lakes with head kitchen gardener Chi Chi Dunford. Tickets include all materials and lunch made with garden produce.
- National Eucalypt Day (March 23): Annual celebration raising awareness of eucalypts and their importance in Australian ecosystems and culture.
- Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (late March): Major horticultural event transforming the world heritage-listed Carlton Gardens and Royal Exhibition Building.
- National Gardening Week (May 1-7): The Royal Horticultural Society’s annual celebration of gardening and horticulture, with events at RHS gardens nationwide.
Garden Trends for 2025
According to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s recent report, these are the top gardening trends we’re seeing this spring:
- Modern Meadow Gardens: Relaxed, colorful gardens with a more natural aesthetic, focusing on native plants that create movement and attract pollinators.
- Digital Detox: Gardens as spaces to disconnect from screens and reconnect with nature, with a focus on creating calm, immersive outdoor experiences.
- Climate Resilience: Sustainable plant choices that can withstand drought, flooding, and extreme weather conditions, with emphasis on native species.
- Vertical Gardening: Growing upward to maximize limited space, from green walls in corporate settings to vertical planters for urban dwellings.
- Bold Colors: Teal is the garden color of the year, with gardeners embracing vibrant hues that evoke nostalgia for the 1990s and early 2000s.
We hope these tips and updates help you have a productive and budget-friendly gardening season! Remember, the best gardens aren’t necessarily the most expensive ones—they’re created with creativity, patience, and a willingness to work with nature rather than against it.
Have a gardening tip or story to share? Connect with us on social media using #SpringGarden2025!