CUTTING IT FINE: March can be your garden’s make-or-break month

By: Timothy Isabirye | Marketing Manager -- Husqvarna South Africa

Most of us love the idea of a beautiful garden. In reality, life gets busy. One week of rain becomes three. The hedges get a little wild, the shrubs start spilling over, and suddenly the garden feels like something you need to catch up on.

That’s why March matters.

It’s the month to take back control of your garden, and it all starts with pruning. Whether you do it yourself or bring in a professional, what you tackle now can make the months ahead cleaner, easier and far more manageable.

Don’t wait until winter to start pruning. Charles Henderson, Business Development Manager (Tree Professional) at Husqvarna South Africa, says that getting ahead in March can prevent plants from becoming dense, tangled and difficult to manage as the seasons change.

“After a full summer of fast growth, plants can quickly become dense and tangled. If pruning is left too late, airflow and sunlight struggle to reach the inner growth, small jobs become much bigger ones, and overcrowded branches create the ideal conditions for pests and disease as the cooler months approach,” says Henderson.

Where to start

So, if you’re convinced it’s time to act, the next question is where to start. Henderson says these are the pruning tasks worth focusing on this March:

1. Tidy up hedges and boundary plants: Using tools such as a Husqvarna hedge trimmer, you can lightly trim hedges to keep them neat, shaped and easier to manage through winter.

2. Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches: Clearing weak or broken growth improves airflow, light and overall plant health.

3. Cut back overgrown climbers and creepers: A controlled March trim keeps fast growers from taking over walls, fences and nearby plants.

4. Prune lightly after harvest for certain fruit trees: Post-harvest pruning helps maintain shape now and sets trees up for stronger winter pruning later.

5. Clear invasive or unwanted growth: Removing invasive shoots and overgrowth now saves work later and protects healthier plants around them.

Common pruning mistakes to avoid

Even well-intentioned pruning can cause problems if done incorrectly. These are some of the most common mistakes homeowners make:

1. Cutting too aggressively: Taking off too much at once can stress the plant and trigger weak regrowth.

2. Using blunt or inappropriate tools: Blunt or unsuitable tools damage branches and leave plants vulnerable to disease.

3. Pruning the wrong plants at the wrong time: Not every plant should be pruned in March, so mistimed cutting can reduce flowering or weaken growth.

4. Leaving stubs or cutting too close: Poor cuts slow recovery and can leave the plant open to damage or disease.

5. Ignoring safety on larger trees: Bigger pruning jobs can quickly become dangerous without the right tools, skills or support.

Regional tips

South Africa’s climate is varied, so pruning timing can look a little different depending on where you are.

Western Cape

March is a good time to lightly prune deciduous trees and shrubs, after the heat of summer and before the wetter months set in. Just be careful not to prune frost-sensitive plants too late in the month.

Gauteng

Warm weather often lingers into March, so it is best to focus on light pruning, shaping and removing deadwood. This can also be a good time to keep fruit trees tidy and under control.

KwaZulu-Natal

Because growth continues for longer in subtropical conditions, early March is a useful time to cut back overgrowth and improve airflow before humidity and rain create bigger problems.

Pruning in March is not just about tidying up. It is about getting ahead. Done well, it can mean healthier plants, less maintenance and a garden that is easier to manage as the seasons shift. Leave it too late, and small jobs have a way of becoming much bigger ones. March may be brief, but when it comes to your garden, it is a window worth using well.

To view Husqvarna’s range of garden tools and equipment, visit www.husqvarna.com/za