What To Purchase In March For A Spring Garden

The key to a successful spring and summer garden is planning. If you want your vegetables and flowers to grow better, you should start gathering supplies and mapping out your ideas in the winter. March is a great time to prepare for your gardening projects, but the key is knowing which items to buy before the planting season begins.

Some gardening products you can buy in March to get a head start on your spring gardening projects include mulch, fertilizer, and compost. If you plan to grow plants from seed, purchase seeds, trays, and seed mix, so you can start them indoors. Check your gardening tools and replace anything that is broken. Buy new gardening gloves and a soil testing kit to check if your soil is healthy.

If you have some downtime this March, consider getting ahead of schedule on your spring garden. When you buy items early, you can often secure great prices and are less likely to find items out of stock. Below is a list of what you can buy now to ensure your garden thrives.

13 Gardening Items You Should Purchase In March 

1. Mulch

Mulch is something most gardeners should spread twice a year. Typically, you mulch once in the fall to protect perennial plants, and once in the spring after planting annuals. Mulch can last for several months in bags, which means March is a great month to buy it. There are many types of mulch, and some are better than others. If you wait until spring to buy this garden essential, you might be left with less-than-ideal choices. By securing your mulch bags early, you are likely to have a good variety to choose from.

2. Potting And Seed-Starting Mix

March is a time when many people begin plants from seed. To do this and even to ensure the seedlings thrive, it’s a good idea to use potting or seed-starting soil mix. These bags of soil are filled with nutrients plants need to thrive when they are young and vulnerable. They also have excellent drainage, which makes seeds and young plants less susceptible to waterlogging. This mix is very popular in the spring, so it’s a good idea to secure a few bags in March.

3. Raised Garden Bed Kit

If you plan to build your garden this year, you should buy all the materials in advance. Raised garden beds have tons of benefits, and if you’re ready to add one to your yard, then March is a great time to buy the supplies to build one. You can purchase a raised garden bed kit or create your own using various materials. However, if you decide to build a raised garden bed, buy your supplies in advance so you can tackle this project as soon as the weather warms up.

4. Weed Killer

As soon as the ground thaws, weeds come back to life. To keep your garden free of weeds, be proactive early in the season, otherwise these invasive plants take over. Part of staying on top of your weeds is securing a weed-killing method in advance. Whether you use natural weed control methods, chemical sprays, or both, it’s crucial that you have your weed-killing arsenal purchased and available as soon as the weather warms up. Buying weed killer in March ensures you won’t fall behind schedule.

5. Compost

Compost is one of the first gardening essentials you use in the spring. This also means it’s in high demand as soon as the weather warms up. If you have a compost pile at home, check it in March to ensure it’s ready to use. If it isn’t, or if you don’t have a compost pile, then you should purchase ample compost in March. Apply it at least 2 weeks before planting your garden, and shortly after the ground completely thaws. This period varies by growing zone, but March is often an ideal time to secure high-quality compost for your garden.

6. Summer Flowering Bulbs

If you like to grow flowers from bulbs, March is a great time to stock up on your summer bulb varieties. The bulbs should go in the ground once there is no longer a risk of frost, but it’s smart to get them a few weeks in advance.  Buying bulbs in March will give you time to map out how many of these flowers you want and where to plant them. 

7. Gardening Gloves

Some gardening tools and accessories last a lifetime, but others need to be replaced each year. Gardening gloves might last a few seasons, but if you use them frequently (and you should), it’s smart to buy a new pair every year. If you didn’t buy new gloves in the fall, then March is a great time to find yourself a new pair when they are in stock.

8. Cold-Hardy Flowers And Shrubs

In warmer regions, March is a great time to start planting cold-hardy plants. If you want to add shrubs or flowers to your yard, it's a great month to start shopping for the perfect plants. Planting shrubs in March ensures they have time to establish themselves and thrive before oppressive heat and sun arrive. It also allows you to get a head start on your gardening projects for the year.

9. Seeds And Seed Trays

In colder climates, March is a great month to start vegetables and flowers from seed. It gives plants four to eight weeks to sprout and grow into seedlings, so you can transplant them into your garden when temperatures are warmer. To grow plants from seed, you need to buy seeds and seed trays. The trays let you plant more in a smaller space and help you stay organized.

10. Soil Testing Kit

Before you spend hundreds of dollars on flowers and vegetables, check the health of the soil. To check your soil’s PH and overall health, you need a soil testing kit. It’s a good idea to test the soil as soon as the ground thaws. In many regions, this means March or April. Having a soil-testing kit in March allows you to check your property’s soil as soon as the weather permits.

11. New Gardening Tools

After a long winter in storage, there’s a chance some of your gardening tools are in bad shape. Winter is a great time to inspect and prepare them for the upcoming season. If you find that some essentials aren’t functioning properly, replace them in March. This ensures you have all the tools you need as soon as the weather warms up.

12. Frost Protection

If you plant vegetables and shrubs when there’s still the risk of an overnight frost, using insulating plant covers and other items are great at keeping your young and vulnerable plants alive and protected when temperatures dip below freezing.

13. Early Spring Vegetables

While the ground is still frozen in some places in March, the soil is thawed and workable in milder climates. It can even be warm enough to start planting cold-hardy vegetables. Many plants can survive an overnight frost, including kale, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and more. Planting these vegetables early will give you a head start on this year’s garden.

Wrapping Up What To Buy In March For Your Spring Garden

Much of the success of your spring and summer garden depends on how much planning and effort you put in throughout the winter. To ensure your outdoor space is bursting with life this year, start gathering essentials in March. 

Some essentials worth stocking up on before spring arrives include quality mulch, compost, and garden tools. Seed trays and seed mix are important for those who want to grow flowers and produce from scratch. You can even purchase and plant cold-hardy plants in March, especially if you live in a region with mild winters.

Related Guides:

• Top Tips For Gardening With Limited Space
• Top Gardening Tools You Will Use This Spring
• 13 Spring Vegetable Garden Tips That Will Improve Your Summer Harvest