Things to do in......March

* Stars of March*

Clear your flowerbeds of any old stems, 'skeletons', leaves that have withered in the cold winter, get rid of any weeds that have borne the weather - all this before the March growth really gets going. You'll have a great start for the growing year.

Feed your shrubs and climbers. Find some slow-release organic feed which is released gradually as the soil warms up (it will, it will!). Scatter some bonemeal, seaweed meal or blood, fish and bone a square metre around your bushes and climbers and they will love you for it.

I found two suitable products at Leroy Merlin:

Lombricompost Tonusol - 8,95 Euros for 20kg and suitable for organic plantations

L'Authentique Or Brun - 8,95 Euros for 20kg, containing algues amongst other goodies

Both products contain 'fumier de cheval' - that's horseS*** to you and me! Look for 'terraux et amèliorants du sol' if you're searching

The hard work starts here, but you wouldn't put a paintbrush near a wall without preparing before so this is the garden equivilant of filling holes and sanding - boring but it's gotta be done! All that digging will warm you up anyway....