Garden activities for March :: The Garden Classroom

Can you feel the murmur of spring in the air? It’s nearly here! Here are seven important garden activities for March that you can use with your children to get your garden classroom off to a great start this year.

Garden activities for March

Welcome to our garden classroom! This post is part of our Kids Gardening Activities. You can use our month-by-month garden guides for your school gardening club, community garden or at home with your family and I’ll show you what to plant, harvest, do, make and learn each month of the year. You will also find more ideas and inspiration in my book, The Garden Classroom.

 

#1 :: make a garden plan

Now is the time to finalise your plans for what you want to grow in your garden classroom this year. Yes, of course you can change your mind and add things later in the seasons, but having a basic plan at this stage will save you time, money and energy. Take a look at these ideas to help you plan your garden, and keep your plan safe inside this free Garden Journal, so you can refer back to it all year round.

 

 

#2 :: order your seeds

If you haven’t already, it’s time to get your seeds ready for this year’s growing.  Write your wish list of everything you’d like to grow this year, using the garden plan you’ve made as your guide. Dig out any seeds you harvested from your garden last year and see what you have. Ask friends, neighbours or parents at your school if they would like to do a seed swap: everyone can order  a few packets, which often have many more seeds in them than you’ll need for a single garden, and you can share them out. See if your local allotment association or gardening club places bulk orders that you can join in with. And support local, organic and independent suppliers.

 

 

#3 :: chit your potatoes

If you’re planning on growing potatoes this year, you’ll need to start them chitting. Follow the growing guide over at Grow Your Own Potatoes, and register for their free potato growing kit.

 

#4 :: feed your soil

Give your soil a boost now with an application of feed, fertilizer or compost. As you dig over the soil and plant in it, you’ll help work this extra nutritious material into the ground, which will give your plants a boost when they start to grow.

 

 

#5 :: start germinating

Seeds that can be planted in March include peas, sweet peas, sunflowers, spring onions, beetroot and salad. Check out this comprehensive planting guide for a full list of what you can plant in March. Growing things from seed is such a valuable activity to do with children, as they get to see the full cycle of a plant from germination through to harvest. And join us in this lesson where we’ll be learning about seeds, talking about how they grow, and investigating seeds with our senses.

 

 

#6 :: add some zing!

After months of cold, grey skies it’s time to add some zing! These Wellington boot planters are so fun and really easy to make. Take an old pairs of boots, make a few drainage holes in the bottom and fill with compost. Then add some pretty flowers. Winter panies or primroses are great to plant in March. Pop the blooming Wellingtons on your doorstep and give all your visitors a smile! I love these planters because they really announce the fact that my garden is a garden classroom where children are at work.

 

 

#7 :: Make a spring nature table

Use these resources to make a seasonal nature table or nature discovery center that engages children in thinking, exploring and learning about spring.

 

 

#8 :: Read spring-themed books

Ready to change-up your book box ready for spring? Here are the most popular spring books for children, as chosen by the NurtureStore community.

 

 

#9 :: Make a nature journal

Bring literacy to your gardening by recording all your planting, growing and nature spotting. This ultimate guide to nature journals for children is full of ideas you can use to make your own nature journal, start a nature study, and explore the natural world.

 

 

#10 :: Celebrate the spring equinox

Let’s learn about the seasons and celebrate the Spring Equinox with our children with this selection of spring lessons and crafts.

 

 

#11 Get The Garden Classroom guide

My book The Garden Classroom is bursting with ideas you can use to make the most of the math, science, literacy, art and play waiting for you outdoors. This is your go-to book to give your children a connection with nature, and is full of creative ways to use the garden to inspire learning. See more and get your copy here.