Celebrating National Flower Month: 10 Flowers to Plant this March

March is National Flower Month—a perfect time to get your hands dirty and start planting! As the cold winter days come to an end, the arrival of spring brings a feeling of renewal and a sense of new, exciting things. What better way to enjoy this than to fill your garden with wild, beautiful flowers? National Flower Month ideas represent a great opportunity to enjoy the aesthetic and functional value of flowers. This article will introduce you to the top flowers to grow in March, giving you useful tips to ensure the success of easy-to-grow spring flowers.

Why March Is the Ideal Time for Planting Spring Gardening Flowers

Beyond the symbolic significance, there are concrete reasons why March is the ideal time for planting spring gardening flowers.

With longer days and increased solar irradiation, the soil temperature starts rising. This warming period is crucial for seed germination and the proper growth of young roots. More hours of light provide the energy resources that plants need to photosynthesize and grow. This means earlier emergence and an extended flowering time for your seasonal flowers for March planting. Understanding your region's last frost date is essential; planting after this date (or protecting plants in case of late frost) is essential for seasonal flowers for March planting.

flowers growing in spring with sunshine

 

Top 10 Flowers to Grow in March: Your Guide to Easy-to-Grow Spring Flowers

We have selected the following top 10 flowers to grow in March based on ease of growth, beauty, and suitability for early spring conditions. These flowers are widely recognized as the best flowers for early spring, so even if you are new to gardening, you should be able to achieve beautiful results in March.

 

Pansies

These are cold-hardy, light-frost hardy, and boast beautiful flowers. They come in a huge variety of colors and patterns, adding color and character to your garden. Pansies prefer sun-to-part shade and well-drained soil and regular deadheading (removing spent blooms) will encourage continuous flowering. They are certainly among the most beautiful flowers to grow in March, finely adapted to late winter and early spring.

Pansies

Sweet Peas

These peas are known for their classical climbing behavior and their subtle smell. They prefer cool temperatures and well-drained, fertile soil. Provide them with something to hold on to, such as a trellis or netting, to climb on. Starting seeds 2 weeks before your last frost date will allow them to get an early start. These are some of the best spring flowers for home gardens because of their fragrance and visual appeal.

Calendula

Pot marigolds (or calendulas) are happy, brightly colored, edible, easy-to-grow spring flowers. They are readily raised from seed and grow well in full sun and good drainage. Calendula has medicinal uses and is also used as an ingredient in herbal medicine preparations.

Snapdragons

These tidy, tall flowers come in a vast range of colors and offer a vertical focal point in the garden. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil while being relatively cold-hardy and can tolerate light frosts, making them ideal flowers to grow in March.

Primroses

Primroses are pretty, ground-hugging flowers, with many colors including yellow, pink, violet, and red. They are huge fans of partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, which makes a woodland garden or a border in partial shade ideal for them.

Dianthus

Dianthus are fluffy, long-stemmed flowers that are available in white, red, pink, or bicolored versions, seeking full sun and well-drained soil. Dianthus are one of the best flowers for early spring since they are relatively drought-tolerant once established.

Lenten Rose (Hellebore)

These stunning, snow-loving perennials flower in late winter to early spring, often when the ground is still snow-covered. They are deer-resistant and prefer well-drained, humus-rich soil. Hellebores deliver beautiful flowers when planted in partial shade, thus exemplifying low-maintenance flowers for early spring.

Hellebore growing in garden beds in spring

Violas

Similar to violets but smaller, violas are frost-hardy and ornamental. They are easy-to-grow spring flowers that will thrive in containers, borders, and rock gardens. Violas thrive in full sun to part shade and in well-drained soil.

Cornflowers (Bachelor's Buttons)

These beautiful blue flowers are simple to grow from seed and beautify the garden by attracting beneficial insects. They enjoy full sun and well-drained soil and are suitable for cottage gardens and wildflower meadows.

Forget-Me-Nots

This wonderful blue flower is easy to cultivate in moist and shaded environments, normally enhancing woodland gardens or riverbanks. They self-seed readily, creating a beautiful, naturalized effect, and then are considered low-maintenance flowers for early spring.

Flower Gardening Tips for Spring: Ensuring Success with Seasonal Flowers for March Planting

Soil Preparation

One of the National Flower Month gardening tips you should keep in mind is to prepare your soil. Start by getting rid of any weeds, rocks, or debris, and then improve the soil by incorporating compost/well-rotted manure to improve drainage and nutrient content. Measuring the pH of the soil is a good idea, as most flowers thrive in slightly acidic to neutral pH soil (6.0-7.0).

Choosing the Right Location

Be aware of the light needs of your chosen flowers to grow in March. Some thrive in full sun (6+ hours per day of direct solar exposure), others prefer partial shade (2-6 hours per day of direct sun exposure), and still others love full shade (less than 2 hours per day of direct sun exposure). Also, take wind exposure into consideration; most delicate flowers need some cover protection.

Starting Seeds Indoors vs. Direct Sowing

Some flowers, such as sweet peas and calendula, can be started from seed in a greenhouse several weeks before the last frost date. This gives them a head start and allows them to develop stronger root systems before transplanting to the garden. Other flowers to grow in March, like pansies and cornflowers, can be directly sown in the garden in March. For beginners, direct sowing of the best flowers for early spring is often the easiest way to get started.

Watering and Fertilizing

Water your newly planted flowers deeply and regularly, especially during dry periods; avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. Once your flowers are established, fertilize with a balanced fertilizer or one specifically formulated for flowering plants.

Protecting from Late Frosts

While most spring gardening flowers are cold-tolerant, they can still be vulnerable to late frosts. Keep an eye on the weather forecast, and if frost is predicted, cover your plants with row covers, cloches, or blankets.

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Conclusion

March is the ideal time to take action by gardening and celebrating National Flower Month. Consider our National Flower Month gardening tips as you plan your spring gardening flowers. By planting the right flowers to grow in March, amending the soil, and providing the right care, you can create an impressive spring garden that you can enjoy for the rest of the year.

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