March Gardening Guide: Spring Into Your Best Garden Yet
March marks the arrival of spring and one of the busiest gardening months of the year in Southern California. Warmer days, longer sunlight, and ideal growing conditions make this the perfect time to plant colorful flowers, start your vegetable garden, add trees and shrubs, and refresh your outdoor living spaces.
Whether you're dreaming of fresh tomatoes, vibrant flower beds, or a backyard filled with pollinators, March is the month to make it happen.
What’s Taking Root This Month
Your March priorities at a glance.
- Plant tomatoes, peppers, herbs, berries, colorful annuals, and pollinator-friendly flowers as spring growth accelerates.
- Add trees and shrubs now so they have time to establish before Southern California’s summer heat arrives.
- Refresh lawns, patio containers, irrigation, and larger landscape projects for a beautiful outdoor season ahead.
What You’ll Find in This March Garden Guide
Refresh Your Garden with Spring Color
Spring has officially arrived, and it's time to replace fading winter flowers with colorful annuals that will bloom for months.
Plant favorites like:
- Petunias
- Marigolds
- Alyssum
- Geraniums
- Ranunculus
- Delphinium
- Dahlias
- Snapdragons
- SunPatiens
- Bacopa
- Calibrachoa
Pre-planted patio containers are an easy way to instantly brighten your front porch, patio, or entryway while creating a welcoming space for spring.
Tip from Our Garden Experts
Mix plants with different heights, colors, textures, and bloom times in one container to enjoy continuous interest and color throughout the season.
Bring Home Instant Spring Color
Refresh beds, baskets, and containers with colorful annuals selected for Southern California’s spring growing season.
Find Your Local ArmstrongIt's Tomato & Pepper Planting Season
March is one of the most exciting months for edible gardening. Warm days and mild evenings make it an ideal time to plant tomatoes and peppers throughout much of Southern California.
Tomatoes
- Early Girl
- Better Boy
- Beefsteak
- Sungold
- Super Sweet 100
- Brandywine
- Black Krim
- Cherokee Purple
- Celebrity
Peppers
- Bell
- Jalapeño
- Serrano
- Anaheim
- Shishito
- Poblano
Prepare planting beds with high-quality planting mix and starter fertilizer according to product directions to encourage strong root development and abundant harvests.
Don't forget sturdy tomato cages or supports while plants are still small. Installing supports early helps protect roots and makes it easier to guide plants as they grow.
Protect Young Warm-Season Plants
March weather can vary by neighborhood and elevation. If an unusually cool night is forecast, protect newly planted tomatoes and peppers until warmer conditions return.
Start Your Best Tomato Garden Yet
Choose from classic slicing tomatoes, sweet cherries, colorful heirlooms, and peppers ranging from mild to spicy.
Visit Our Garden ExpertsPlant Trees & Shrubs That Grow for Years
Spring is one of the best times to add structure and long-term beauty to your landscape.
Excellent choices include:
- Fruitless olive
- Palo verde
- Magnolia
- Jacaranda
- Tabebuia
- Redbud
- Rock rose (Cistus)
- Protea
- Grevillea
- Leucadendron
Trees and shrubs planted now have time to establish before the heat of summer. Choose plants suited to your garden’s sunlight, mature size, soil, and local microclimate.
Grow a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
March is the perfect month to welcome hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees into your garden.
Create a colorful pollinator habitat with:
- Fuchsia
- Lavender
- Snapdragons
- Alyssum
- Salvia
- Baby's breath
- Gardenia
- Hydrangea
- Buddleia, also known as butterfly bush
Add a clean hummingbird feeder and a fresh water source to encourage frequent visits throughout spring and summer.
Create a Longer Pollinator Season
Combine plants with different flower shapes and bloom periods. A varied planting provides more consistent food for hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial visitors.
Fresh Herbs, Berries & Edible Gardens
March is an ideal time to grow fresh ingredients right outside your door.
Plant herbs like:
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Chives
- Tarragon
- Parsley
- Mint
- Lemon balm
You can also plant:
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Citrus
- Avocados
Fresh herbs and berries are easy to grow in containers, raised beds, or traditional garden spaces. Match each plant with the right sunlight and container size for the best results.
Give Your Patio a Spring Makeover
As outdoor entertaining season begins, refresh your patio with beautiful pottery, flowering containers, outdoor furniture, fountains, and decorative accents.
A few colorful planters near your front door or seating area can completely transform your outdoor living space.
Create an Outdoor Space You’ll Love
Pair pottery, seasonal plants, patio furniture, and outdoor accents to make your porch or patio feel ready for spring gatherings.
Explore In StoreHouseplants for a Fresh Start
Spring isn't just for outdoor gardening.
Brighten your home with lush houseplants like:
- Philodendrons
- Orchids
- Monstera
- ZZ plant
- Chinese evergreen
- Pothos
As temperatures warm and daylight increases, monitor soil moisture more frequently because some houseplants may begin using water faster than they did during winter. Always check the soil before watering.
Lawn Care for Spring
Help your lawn wake up after winter with a little seasonal maintenance.
This month:
- Feed warm-season and cool-season lawns when appropriate.
- Adjust irrigation as temperatures rise.
- Apply weed prevention if needed and according to label directions.
- Spot treat snails and slugs around the garden using an appropriate product.
- Inspect and prepare irrigation systems for spring.
Healthy lawns create a beautiful green backdrop for colorful spring landscapes.
Plan Your Dream Landscape
March is one of the busiest months for gardening projects, making it a great time to start planning larger improvements.
Whether you're creating:
- A pollinator garden
- A drought-tolerant landscape
- A backyard vegetable garden
- New planting beds
- Outdoor entertaining spaces
Starting now means you'll enjoy your new landscape throughout spring and summer while giving plants more time to establish before peak summer heat.
Bring Your Dream Garden to Life
Work with a local landscape designer to create an outdoor space tailored to your home, lifestyle, and Southern California microclimate.
Book a Landscape Design VisitMarch Garden Checklist
- Plant tomatoes and peppers.
- Refresh flower beds with colorful annuals.
- Plant trees and shrubs.
- Grow herbs and berries.
- Add hummingbird-friendly plants.
- Feed your lawn as appropriate.
- Refresh patio containers.
- Protect plants from snails and slugs.
- Install tomato cages and supports.
- Schedule spring landscape projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common March gardening questions about tomatoes, spring flowers, vegetables, hummingbirds, and landscaping in Southern California.
What should I plant in March in Southern California?
March is perfect for planting tomatoes, peppers, herbs, berries, fruit trees, colorful annuals, shrubs, and landscape trees.
Is March too early for tomatoes?
In most Southern California gardens, March is an excellent time to plant tomatoes. If unusually cool weather is forecast, protect young plants overnight.
What flowers bloom in March?
Petunias, marigolds, ranunculus, snapdragons, geraniums, alyssum, fuchsia, hydrangeas, and delphiniums can all provide outstanding spring color.
What vegetables grow well in March?
Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, lettuce, kale, strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, squash, and beans can all thrive when planted during March, depending on local conditions.
How do I attract hummingbirds?
Plant nectar-rich flowers such as fuchsia, salvia, lavender, and snapdragons. Keep hummingbird feeders clean, use fresh nectar, and provide a reliable source of clean water.
Is March a good time for landscaping?
Absolutely. Spring is one of the best seasons to install trees, shrubs, planting beds, and outdoor living spaces before the heat of summer arrives.
Spring Into Your Best Garden Yet
March offers nearly endless opportunities to grow in Southern California. From planting tomatoes and colorful flowers to adding trees, attracting pollinators, and refreshing outdoor living spaces, the work you do now can create a healthier and more beautiful garden for the months ahead.
For recommendations tailored to your garden and local microclimate, visit your local Armstrong Garden Center and speak with one of our garden experts.
