MARCH HAS FINALLY ARRIVED
This year has been a long, cold winter. Like many of you, I could not wait for March to arrive. March means that hibernation is finally over, and we can spend more time outside. March 8 is “spring forward,” which will give us more daylight hours in the evening to stay outside and work in our gardens and landscapes.
Just as in meteorology, the green industry considers the beginning of March the start of spring, even though spring is not officially here until March 20th.
HERE ARE SOME GARDENING THOUGHTS AND CHORES FOR MARCH
- Now is a good time to trim down your ornamental grasses, including liriope monkey grass. I applaud you for leaving them as is through the winter. This is a sign that you are connecting with nature.
- SOIL TESTING: If not done so already, I strongly suggest you do a soil test on your gardens and landscape. This complete soil analysis will tell you everything about your soil and what you may need, if anything, to adjust now (i.e. pH, lack of vital nutrients, etc.).
- MULCHING: March is a good month to add a fresh coating of mulch around your landscape beds. Remember the golden rule – MULCH OUT / NOT UP.
- PRUNING – IF NEEDED: Hollies, boxwoods, Ligustrum, junipers. And more can be pruned in March.
- CRABGRASS: Now that our soil is warming up it is the time to apply a CRABGRASS PRE-EMERGENT . If you see forsythia in bloom then this is the indicator to put down crabgrass control. Remember – crabgrass is an annual weed that laid seed last year before it died. Pre-emergent will help keep this seed from germinating.
- March is a good month to plant your cole crop vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, spinach, arugula, collards, and more. These leafy vegetables like the cooler soil that March provides.
- With our longer sunlight hours and warmer temperatures our houseplants are becoming more active. Now is a good time to give all your tropical houseplants a feeding. Keep your houseplants inside until sometime in April when we are past the time of frost.
“THE GLORY OF GARDENING: HANDS IN THE DIRT, HEAD IN THE SUN, HEART WITH NATURE”
HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE and remember to PLANT A LITTLE HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!