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The Garden Diaries: New Zealand in March

Potted plant with green leaves.
Autumn is a great time to be in the garden in New Zealand. Fruit and vegetables are ripe and ready for picking, and it's the perfect time for planting - the soil is warm, but the days are cooler. Here are some great ideas for what to do in March to keep your garden looking fabulous.

Hero plant this month: Citrus

This month it's all about citrus. Every garden should have at least one or two of these. There are so many different varieties to choose from including lemons, limes, cumquats, mandarins or oranges.

They not only make a beautiful feature tree but are productive too. If you haven't got much room, plant your citrus in a pot and remember to use a premium potting mix. You can also select from the range of smaller growing varieties in-store. 

Potted citrus plants.

What else to plant

Camellias are also a good option to be planting now. They're evergreen, easy to grow and produce a fabulous show of flowers from now through the winter.  Depending on the variety, they will grow well in the sun or in the shade. 

Think about star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) too. It's versatile, making an awesome climber but it will also reward if allowed to do its thing as a ground cover. 

Cyclamen are fabulous as indoor plants with a long flowering season. But keep them away from the heater and don't overwater. 

Spring bulbs are coming online too. Select from daffodils, jonquils, and anemones all of which make a top show. They look great in pots to create a pop of colour on a balcony or patio. 

Plant some edibles too. Direct sow into weed-free beds carrots, beetroot and parsnip.  

Brassicas such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are also good to plant now, as they thrive in the cooler weather. As do spinach and silverbeet, which are healthy winter greens. 

Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower seedlings.

Maintenance

Gardeners love autumn as it's the perfect time to get out the pruners. 

Trim shrubs, remove any dead wood and prune those that have finished flowering, such as azaleas and camellias. This will encourage new growth for next season's blooms. 

It's a great time to replenish tired soil by adding compost or sheep pellets so the soil is ready for re-planting. 

Watch out for pests, aphids, white fly and scale insects might still be about. Use a suitable spray for control. If you're not sure what will work best on your plants, pop into store and get some advice. 

A man spraying plants.

Harvest

The best thing about March is that all the lovely produce from the patch is plentiful. Harvest capsicums, chillies, lettuce, kale, silverbeet and leeks.

There is no excuse, get out into the garden this weekend. Do some pruning, planting and picking. It's not only therapeutic for you, but it'll do your garden good too.  

Fruit and veg piled up on a table.

Our Perfect Plant Promise

Remember the Perfect Plant Promise. All our plants (except seedlings) are guaranteed for 12 months. If you're not 100 per cent happy, return your plant (with receipt or tax invoice) and we'll refund it.

Start planting today

Check out the wide range of plants available at your local Bunnings and bring your garden to life.

 


Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.