Set the Season Early: The March Moves That Drive Spring Sell-Through 

For lawn and garden stores, March is go-time. Customers are planning beds, cleaning up landscapes, and starting early-season projects. The stores that win this month are the ones that stay in stock on essentials, merchandise by project, and adjust fast as weather changes. 

1) Build Inventory Around Early-Season Missions 

Instead of planning by department alone, plan by customer job: 

• Lawn wake-up (seed, fertilizer, spreaders, patch/repair) 

• Bed prep (soil amendments, compost, mulch, edging) 

• Early color + containers (annuals, pottery, plant food) 

• Control and prevention (weed, insect, fungus solutions) 

Protect your core “never-out” SKUs first, then add new and premium options that increase ticket size. 

2) Shift to Weekly Replenishment Discipline 

Spring demand can spike after one warm weekend. Weekly reorder review is critical for top-turn categories like grass seeds, fertilizers, soils, mulches, and controls. 

Operational focus: 

• Set minimum on-hand levels for top movers 

• Keep approved alternates for key items 

• Reallocate display space weekly based on what is actually selling 

3) Merchandise by Project Zone, Not Brand Block 

Customers buy solutions, not aisles. Build clear spring zones such as: 

• “Feed + Seed Your Lawn” 

• “Refresh Beds in One Trip” 

• “Container Garden Starter” 

Each zone should combine primary item + add-ons (tools, gloves, amendments, protection) to lift average basket and simplify decision-making. 

4) Prepare Team + Floor for Weather-Driven Traffic 

March traffic is uneven. One forecast swing can change your weekend volume. Use a short weekly huddle and floor walk to align the team on: 

• Top SKUs to watch daily 

• Fast-talking points for current lawn/plant issues 

• Display resets needed before peak days 

Track weekly: 

• In-stock % on top lawn and garden items 

• Sell-through by project zone 

• Average basket in seasonal categories 

• Margin by promo/display area 

5) Promote Timing, Value, and Confidence 

March promotions should be practical and seasonal: 

• Weekend “spring kickoff” bundles 

• Good/better/best options for lawn programs 

• “Project in a cart” offers for bed and container refresh 

Focus on message clarity over heavy discounting: what to do now, what to buy now, and why it works now. 

How Arett Supports Your Spring Success 

• Shop by category on Arett.com to quickly source what you need for the season and take advantage of current promotional programs including Good Prod Flyer, Super Saver, and weekly DEALS. 

• Stay current with our monthly Outlook newsletter for timely industry updates, seasonal planning ideas, and practical retail tips. 

• Schedule time with Greensmith, Arett’s marketing division, to build a focused strategy and promote with confidence through spring. 

March Quick-Action Checklist (Lawn & Garden) 

• Finalize early-season open-to-buy by project mission 

• Confirm top 25 never-out spring SKUs + alternates 

• Launch at least 3 project-based merchandising zones 

• Run weekly replenishment and KPI review cadence 

• Align April pipeline now for seed, feed, soils, mulch, and control categories 

• Utilize Arett’s resources to thrive this Spring! 

March sets the tone for the full spring season. Tight execution now leads to better turns, higher baskets, and stronger margins as peak lawn and garden demand builds.