March is the perfect month to give your garden a fresh start by cutting back certain plants. This practice not only encourages new growth but also ensures a healthier, more vibrant garden.
Here’s a list of 30 plants that will benefit from a good pruning session this month. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and make your garden flourish!
1. Lavender
Start with a breath of fresh air and the soft scent of lavender whispers in your garden. Lavender, with its purple blooms and aromatic foliage, loves a good trim in March. Snipping away the old growth will make way for a fuller display come summer.
Pruning encourages new shoots and helps maintain their compact shape. Remember to cut just above the leaves and avoid cutting into the woody stems. With a little care, your lavender will thank you with a soothing scent and vibrant flowers.
2. Roses
Ah, the timeless beauty of roses! These romantic blooms adore a spring makeover. In March, prune away dead or weak stems to let sunlight and air circulate more freely.
By cutting back to outward-facing buds, you’ll encourage a robust structure. Your roses will reward you with a bouquet of blossoms in the months ahead. Just watch out for those sneaky thorns!
Wield your secateurs with love and confidence, and your rose garden will flourish magnificently.
3. Peonies
March is the perfect time to give those grand dames of the garden a little TLC! Trim back any leftover foliage on your peonies to ensure they stay strong and vibrant, ready to bloom beautifully come spring.
Trim down to the ground, making sure to clear away any debris that could harbor pests or diseases. Your peonies will burst into glorious bloom when the time is just right.
A little tidying up now means a symphony of colors and scents later. You won’t regret giving these beauties the royal treatment.
4. Ornamental grasses
A touch of elegance is always welcome in the garden, and ornamental grasses bring just that! In March, give them a little grooming by cutting them back, allowing fresh growth to take center stage as spring approaches.
A simple shearing will do the trick, cutting them down to a few inches above the ground. This encourages fresh, new shoots that will wave gently in the breeze.
Let your garden dance with life by giving these grasses the attention they deserve. A snip here and there will keep them looking sharp and tidy.
5. Clematis
Twisting and climbing with unmatched enthusiasm, clematis vines are the acrobats of your garden! March is the perfect time to give them a trim, setting the stage for even more vibrant growth and stunning blooms.
Prune back to the first pair of strong buds, and you’ll have a cascade of blossoms come summer. Keep an eye out for dead or damaged wood, and snip those away as well.
With a little tender loving care, your clematis will perform a stunning aerial display. Let them weave their magic in your garden.
6. Butterfly bush (Buddleia)
A butterfly bush attracts a flurry of winged wonders, and it thrives with a little trim in March! Cut it back to about a foot from the ground to spark a bountiful display of blooms, filling your garden with color and life.
This cut will stimulate fresh growth, inviting butterflies to dance among the flowers. Keep an eye out for weak or crossing branches, and snip those away.
Your garden will flutter with life, thanks to your thoughtful pruning. It’s a beautiful partnership between plant and gardener.
7. Lavender cotton (Santolina)
With its irresistible aroma and silver-grey foliage, lavender cotton is ready for a spring refresh! March is the ideal moment to trim it back, keeping its compact shape and ensuring it flourishes beautifully throughout the season.
Snip away the old growth to make room for vigorous new shoots. A well-pruned lavender cotton will enhance your garden with texture and scent.
It’s a garden staple that rewards a little effort with elegance and charm. A tidy trim now sets the stage for a stunning display.
8. Sage
A thoughtful pruning in March will do wonders for this herb garden favorite! Trim back the woody stems of sage to encourage fresh, aromatic growth that will keep your garden smelling delightful all season long.
This not only keeps your sage bushy and lush but also makes it a culinary delight. Harvest those fresh leaves for your kitchen creations!
A little nip and tuck will reward you with a bountiful herb garden. Keep your sage thriving and aromatic all season long.
9. Thyme
March is the perfect moment to reign in thyme, ensuring it stays vibrant and manageable! Trim back the woody stems to encourage fresh growth, allowing those tiny leaves and delightful scent to shine throughout the season.
This encourages new growth and keeps it compact and lush. Use the pruned bits in your cooking for a burst of flavor!
A little attention now ensures a thriving thyme plant that’s both beautiful and useful. Let it spill over your garden paths with aromatic grace.
10. Catmint (Nepeta)
With a light prune in March, catmint will reward you with a burst of vibrant new growth. Cutting back the old stems helps the plant flourish, bringing lively color and fragrance to your garden.
Your garden will thank you with a splash of color and a delightful fragrance. Catmint’s cascading habit adds charm to garden edges and borders.
Keep it in line with a little snip here and there, and enjoy the playful dance of its leaves and flowers all season long.
11. Ornamental sage
Ornamental sage brings a splash of color and texture to any garden, and March is the time to tidy it up. Prune back the old growth and allow fresh shoots to emerge.
This keeps the plant tidy and encourages a robust display of flowers. Your garden will buzz with life and color thanks to your thoughtful trimming.
Embrace the vibrancy of ornamental sage and let it steal the spotlight in your garden. A little care now ensures a stunning show later.
12. Yarrow (Achillea)
As a true garden warrior, yarrow stands strong with its feathery foliage. March is the perfect time to trim back last year’s growth, clearing the way for fresh, vibrant shoots to emerge and take center stage.
This encourages a bushier plant and a burst of colorful blooms. Your garden will be a haven for pollinators, thanks to yarrow’s alluring flowers.
A little snip here and there keeps your yarrow thriving and full of life. Let it stand tall and proud in your garden.
13. Sedum (Autumn Joy)
March is the ideal time for a spring refresh of sedum! By trimming back the old growth, you’ll encourage new, vigorous shoots to emerge, setting the stage for stunning blooms and succulent leaves all season long.
This not only keeps the plant looking tidy but also encourages a spectacular display come autumn. Sedum is a low-maintenance beauty that rewards minimal effort.
A little trim goes a long way in keeping it healthy and vibrant. Let your sedum shine in its succulent glory all year round.
14. Heuchera
For heuchera, a little pampering goes a long way. Prune away any damaged or old leaves to make room for vibrant new growth that will showcase its stunning array of colors.
This keeps the plant tidy and enhances its vibrant appearance. Heuchera’s delicate flowers will soon follow, adding charm to shaded spots.
A thoughtful trim keeps your Heuchera looking its best. Let it light up your garden with its colorful presence.
15. Hostas
These gentle giants of the shade garden thrive with just a little attention. Trim away any old foliage from hostas to make room for fresh, lush leaves that will add beauty and depth to your garden.
This helps prevent pests and diseases, keeping your hostas healthy and vibrant. Hostas’ elegant leaves will soon unfurl, creating a lush, green carpet.
A little care now ensures a stunning display in the months to come. Let your hostas be the stars of the shade.
16. Daylilies
Daylilies are the showstoppers of the summer garden, and they love a spring trim. March is the perfect time to remove old growth and make way for new foliage.
This encourages a profusion of blooms that will dazzle throughout the season. Daylilies are low-maintenance beauties that reward a little effort with a stunning display.
A quick tidy-up now ensures a spectacular show later. Let your daylilies steal the spotlight in your garden.
17. Astilbe
A trim in March clears the way for fresh, vibrant growth in shaded spots. Removing old foliage from astilbe will help its feathery plumes thrive, adding a touch of elegance to your garden.
This encourages a bushy plant and a stunning floral display. Astilbe’s delicate flowers will soon grace your garden with their airy beauty.
A little care now ensures a lush and colorful garden later. Let your Astilbe be the graceful dancers of the shade.
18. Coneflower (Echinacea)
A spring haircut is just what coneflowers need to thrive. Cut back the old growth in March, and you’ll encourage fresh, vibrant shoots that will brighten up your garden all season long!
This encourages a robust display of colorful blooms that will attract pollinators. Coneflowers are a garden favorite for their beauty and resilience.
A little snip here and there keeps them thriving and full of life. Let your coneflowers be the stars of the summer garden.
19. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
With their sunny faces and dark centers, black-eyed Susans thrive with a spring refresh. Trim away the old growth to clear the way for fresh, lush foliage that will light up your garden!
This encourages a profusion of blooms that will light up your garden. Black-eyed Susans are a cheerful addition to any garden, requiring minimal maintenance.
A quick tidy-up now ensures a vibrant display later. Let these sunny blooms bring joy to your garden all season long.
20. Bee balm (Monarda)
The life of the garden party, bee balm draws pollinators with its vibrant blooms. A trim in March clears the way for fresh shoots, ensuring it continues to thrive and attract even more visitors.
This encourages a robust display of flowers that will delight bees and butterflies. Bee balm is a garden favorite for its beauty and pollinator-friendly nature.
A little care now ensures a lively and colorful garden later. Let your bee balm be the star of the summer show.
21. Russian sage (Perovskia)
A spring makeover is just what Russian sage needs to thrive. Trim back the old woody stems in March to make room for fresh growth, ensuring its silvery foliage and vibrant blue flowers shine throughout the season.
This keeps the plant tidy and enhances its stunning appearance. Russian sage is a low-maintenance beauty that rewards minimal effort.
A little trim goes a long way in keeping it healthy and vibrant. Let your Russian sage shine in its silvery glory all season long.
22. Goldenrod (Solidago)
A burst of sunshine is on the way when you tidy up goldenrod. Trim away the old growth to create space for fresh, vibrant shoots that will light up your garden in no time.
This encourages a profusion of golden blooms that will light up your garden. Goldenrod is a cheerful addition to any garden, requiring minimal maintenance.
A quick tidy-up now ensures a vibrant display later. Let these golden blooms bring joy to your garden all season long.
23. Mums (Chrysanthemums)
Get ready for a grand garden finale with mums! A spring trim in March will remove old growth and set the stage for fresh foliage, ensuring a stunning display when the season peaks.
This encourages a profusion of blooms that will dazzle throughout the season. Mums are low-maintenance beauties that reward a little effort with a stunning display.
A quick tidy-up now ensures a spectacular show later. Let your mums steal the spotlight in your garden.
24. Coral bells (Heuchera)
A little pampering goes a long way for coral bells! Prune away any damaged or old leaves to make room for fresh, vibrant growth, allowing their stunning foliage colors to shine even brighter.
This keeps the plant tidy and enhances its vibrant appearance. Coral bells’ delicate flowers will soon follow, adding charm to shaded spots.
A thoughtful trim keeps your coral bells looking their best. Let them light up your garden with their colorful presence.
25. Salvia
Get ready for vibrant spikes of color as salvia springs to life! Trim back the old growth in March to encourage fresh shoots, setting the stage for a stunning bloom season ahead.
This keeps the plant tidy and enhances its stunning appearance. Salvia is a garden favorite for its beauty and resilience.
A little care now ensures a vibrant display later. Let your salvia be the star of the summer garden.
26. Verbena
Verbena steals the show in any garden, drawing pollinators with its vibrant blooms! A trim now will clear out the old growth, making way for fresh shoots and ensuring a lively, colorful display.
This encourages a robust display of flowers that will delight bees and butterflies. Verbena is a garden favorite for its beauty and pollinator-friendly nature.
A little care now ensures a lively and colorful garden later. Let your verbena be the star of the summer show.
27. Fuchsias
Add a touch of elegance to your garden by giving fuchsias some attention! Trim away the old growth now to make way for fresh shoots, ensuring their pendulous blooms are even more stunning this season.
This encourages a profusion of flowers that will dazzle throughout the season. Fuchsias are a graceful addition to any garden, requiring minimal maintenance.
A quick tidy-up now ensures a spectacular show later. Let your fuchsias sway gracefully in the breeze.
28. Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina)
Get ready for a lush transformation with lamb’s ear! Trim away the old growth in March to clear the way for soft, velvety leaves to thrive, bringing even more beauty to your garden.
This encourages a bushy plant and a stunning display of flowers. Lamb’s ear is a garden favorite for its texture and charm.
A little care now ensures a lush and tactile garden later. Let your lamb’s ear be the soft touch in your garden.
29. Wisteria
Unleash the full drama of wisteria by giving it a trim! Cutting back those long shoots in March will encourage a more compact shape and set the stage for an even more breathtaking cascade of blooms.
This keeps the plant tidy and enhances its stunning appearance. Wisteria is a garden favorite for its beauty and fragrance.
A little care now ensures a vibrant display later. Let your wisteria steal the show with its dramatic flair.
30. Hydrangeas
Transform your garden with hydrangeas, the chameleons of the plant world! A trim in March will remove old growth and make way for fresh shoots, setting the stage for their stunning color transformation.
This encourages a profusion of blooms that will dazzle throughout the season. Hydrangeas are a garden favorite for their beauty and versatility.
A little care now ensures a spectacular show later. Let your hydrangeas be the stars of the garden.