March is the month when the garden begins to stir back to life.
The days are getting longer, the soil is warming up, and plants are starting to wake from their winter slumber.
But before they can fully embrace the growing season, some plants need a good trim.
Cutting back certain plants in March helps promote new growth, improves their shape, and prevents disease from lingering in old stems and leaves.
If you skip this step, your plants may struggle to thrive, growing weaker and producing fewer flowers or fruit.
Knowing which plants to cut back now will set your garden up for success all season long.
Here are five key plants that benefit from a spring trim in March.
Roses
March is one of the most important months for rose care.
As winter fades and spring approaches, roses begin to wake up from dormancy, making it the perfect time to prune them.
A well-timed pruning session encourages strong, healthy stems, better air circulation, and an abundance of blooms throughout the growing season.
If you skip pruning, your roses may become weak, leggy, and more prone to disease, reducing their ability to flower beautifully.
The first step in pruning roses is to identify the type you have.
Hybrid tea, floribunda, and grandiflora roses benefit from a hard prune in March, cutting them back by about one-third to one-half of their height.
This encourages fresh, vigorous growth and larger blooms.
Shrub roses, like Knock Out roses, need only light pruning to remove dead wood and improve their overall shape.
Climbing roses require a more selective approach, trimming away weak canes while preserving the strong ones that will support the plant’s structure.
To begin pruning, use sharp, clean pruning shears to make precise cuts.
Start by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased stems, cutting them back to healthy wood.
Next, look for any stems that are crossing or rubbing against each other, as these can cause wounds that invite disease.
Cut these at their base to improve airflow within the plant.
For the main structural canes, make angled cuts about a quarter-inch above an outward-facing bud.
This encourages new growth to spread outward rather than inward, preventing overcrowding.
Once pruning is complete, clear away any fallen leaves or debris around the plant to minimize the risk of fungal diseases like black spot.
Applying a layer of mulch around the base helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
For an added boost, feed your roses with a balanced fertilizer to encourage strong new shoots.
Pruning roses in March may seem intimidating, but it’s one of the best things you can do for your plants.
With the right cuts, your roses will be healthier, stronger, and more productive, rewarding you with a breathtaking display of blooms all season long.
Lavender
Lavender is a garden favorite, known for its fragrant purple flowers and ability to attract pollinators.
However, without proper pruning, lavender plants can become woody, leggy, and less productive over time.
March is the perfect time to give lavender a good trim, setting the stage for fresh, bushy growth and a full season of blooms.
Unlike some plants that can handle hard pruning, lavender requires a more careful approach.
Cutting back too much into the woody stems can cause permanent damage, as lavender does not regenerate well from old wood.
The goal is to shape the plant and encourage new growth while preserving its health.
To begin, use a sharp pair of pruning shears and trim back about one-third of the plant’s height.
Look for green, flexible growth and avoid cutting into the brown, woody base.
Focus on removing any dead, weak, or overly long stems to create a more compact and rounded shape.
Pruning helps prevent lavender from becoming too leggy and ensures that new shoots emerge from the base.
This will keep the plant dense and full, rather than sparse and straggly.
After pruning, clear away any trimmings and inspect the soil around the plant.
Lavender thrives in well-draining soil, so if you notice compacted or overly damp conditions, consider adding sand or small gravel to improve drainage.
A light feeding with a balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer can also support healthy growth.
By cutting back lavender in March, you help maintain its shape, encourage more flower production, and keep the plant healthy for years to come.
With just a little care, your lavender will grow fuller, bloom longer, and fill your garden with its signature calming fragrance.
Clematis
Clematis is one of the most stunning flowering vines, gracing trellises and garden walls with its abundant, colorful blooms.
However, if you want your clematis to put on the best floral display, pruning at the right time is essential.
March is a crucial month for trimming many varieties of clematis, but knowing which type you have will determine how and when to cut it back.
Clematis is divided into three pruning groups based on their blooming habits.
Pruning at the wrong time can result in fewer flowers or even no blooms at all.
If you’re unsure which type of clematis you have, take a moment to observe when it flowers and where the blooms appear.
Group 1 clematis, such as Clematis montana and Clematis armandii, bloom on old wood, meaning their flowers form on last year’s growth.
These varieties should not be pruned in March.
Instead, wait until after flowering in late spring before lightly shaping the plant.
Group 2 clematis, including many large-flowered hybrids, bloom on both old and new wood.
These benefit from a light prune in March to remove dead or weak stems while preserving healthy buds for early blooms.
Only cut back a few inches to maintain shape and encourage fresh growth.
Group 3 clematis, such as Clematis viticella and Clematis terniflora (Sweet Autumn Clematis), bloom on new wood, making March the perfect time for a hard prune.
Cut these varieties down to about 12 to 18 inches above the ground, just above a set of healthy buds.
This encourages strong new shoots that will produce abundant flowers later in the season.
When pruning clematis, use sharp, clean shears and remove any dead, damaged, or tangled stems.
Clearing away old, weak growth improves airflow and helps prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
Once you’ve finished pruning, mulch around the base of the plant to keep the roots cool and retain moisture.
By pruning clematis at the right time in March, you ensure stronger growth, more flowers, and a healthier vine that will thrive throughout the season.
Miscanthus
Miscanthus, also known as maiden grass, is a popular ornamental grass that provides year-round interest in the garden.
With its tall, graceful plumes and feathery texture, miscanthus is a standout feature in any landscape.
However, by the time March arrives, last year’s foliage has likely turned brown and brittle, making it essential to cut it back before new shoots emerge.
Pruning miscanthus in March helps clear away dead growth, allowing fresh green blades to take over.
If old foliage isn’t removed in time, it can smother new shoots, making the plant look messy and preventing it from reaching its full potential.
To cut back miscanthus, use sharp hedge trimmers or pruning shears and trim the plant down to about 4 to 6 inches above the ground.
For larger clumps, tying the dead stalks together with twine before cutting makes cleanup easier.
Be careful not to cut too low, as the crown of the plant contains new shoots that will soon sprout.
After pruning, rake away any remaining debris around the base of the plant.
This improves airflow and reduces the risk of pests and fungal diseases that thrive in damp, decaying plant material.
If your miscanthus has been in the same spot for several years and appears overcrowded, March is also a great time to divide it.
Dig up the clump, separate it into smaller sections, and replant them in fresh soil to rejuvenate growth and prevent the center from dying out.
Once pruning and cleanup are complete, apply a light layer of compost or a slow-release fertilizer to give the plant a boost as it enters the growing season.
With a fresh start in March, miscanthus will quickly bounce back, filling your garden with its signature texture, movement, and beauty for the rest of the year.
Coneflowers
Coneflowers (Echinacea) are a staple in many gardens, known for their stunning daisy-like flowers and ability to attract pollinators like butterflies and bees.
These hardy perennials bloom throughout summer and into early fall, but to ensure they come back strong each year, they need a little maintenance in early spring.
March is the perfect time to cut back coneflowers, clearing away last year’s dead stems to make room for new growth.
Leaving dead stems and seed heads on coneflowers over winter is a common practice, as they provide food for birds and add winter interest to the garden.
However, as temperatures rise and new shoots begin emerging from the soil, it’s important to remove the old, dried-out stems to prevent disease and allow fresh growth to flourish.
If you delay pruning too long, the old stems can become a breeding ground for pests and fungal infections, which can weaken the new growth.
To cut back coneflowers, use clean, sharp pruning shears and trim the old stems down to about one or two inches above the soil.
Be careful not to cut into any new green shoots emerging from the base of the plant.
If you see small leaf rosettes at the base, those are the beginnings of this year’s stems and flowers.
Pruning at the right time allows sunlight to reach the new growth, helping it develop strong and healthy.
After pruning, clear away any plant debris from around the base of the coneflower to improve air circulation and prevent mold or rot.
Applying a thin layer of compost or organic mulch helps enrich the soil and retain moisture, giving your coneflowers the nutrients they need to thrive.
With a proper cutback in March, your coneflowers will reward you with lush foliage and vibrant blooms in summer, creating a colorful, pollinator-friendly garden that lasts well into fall.
Final Thoughts
Cutting back the right plants in March is a simple yet essential step to keeping your garden healthy and vibrant.
By pruning roses, lavender, clematis, miscanthus, and coneflowers at the right time, you encourage fresh growth, reduce disease, and set the stage for a season of strong blooms and lush foliage.
With just a little effort now, your plants will be stronger, healthier, and more beautiful all season long.