If you want to have a fantastic yard this spring and summer, March is the time to start staying on top of tasks that need attention. There can be so much to do after the winter months that we thought we could share some help prioritizing your spring chores!
Do It Now
~ Apply a dormant spray to fruit trees until about midmonth. After that point, dilute the solution concentration by half if you spray. Follow label directions carefully.
~ Divide clump-forming, spring-blooming shrubs before flowers or leaves appear. Candidates include Japanese kerria, forsythia, and winter honeysuckle. Cut plants back to about 4 inches before digging clumps.
~ Finish pruning evergreens and cut to shape yo control plant size.
~ Clean up rose beds, removing any fallen leaves from last season. Refresh mulch around roses. Feed plants with a slow-release rose fertilizer. As new leaves emerge, start weekly sprays for black spot.
~Double-check irrigation systems to ensure all is working fine.
Prepare for Upcoming Chores
~Wait to prune spring-blooming shrubs and trees until after flowering.
~Finish pruning summer-flowering plants that form blooms on new growth, like butterfly bush or rose of Sharon.
~Let self-sowing plants set and drop seed. This includes bachelor’s button, calendula, larkspur, and forget-me-not.
~Fill bird feeders and clean birdhouses to offer room and board to returning migratory species. Feeders can stage a fascinating show as birds wing their way north to summer breeding grounds.
Grow Your Own Food
~Plant cool-season varieties, such as radishes, peas, lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower as soon as you can work the ground — they’ll survive frosty weather.
~Wait to plant warm-season annuals such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, okra, sweet potatoes, and watermelons, after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to about 60 degrees F (a temperature in which you can comfortably walk on soil in bare feet).
~ March is a great time to plant berry crops and citrus trees. This list includes strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries, currants, and grapes.
putting in a new garden.
Grass Works
~Fertilize Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass lawns that were overseeded for winter. If you didn’t overseed warm-season turf, don’t fertilize it now. Also, don’t fertilize St. Augustinegrass or centipedegrass yet.
~Grubs become active this month and feast on grass before molting. Check with your local extension office to learn which treatments work best in your area this time of year.
~Get the jump on crabgrass and goosegrass by applying a preemergent herbicide. Time applications to coincide with forsythia flowering.
Mulch Matters Most
~The single best thing you can do to save time and energy in the garden is spread mulch. A 2- to 3-inch-deep layer of mulch will stop many weeds from growing. It also helps your soil stay moist during hot, dry periods this summer.
Here’s a hint: Look for inexpensive or free mulch materials in your area. For example, many municipalities offer a free compost pile for city residents.
Prune Spring Shrubs
~If any of your spring-blooming shrubs or trees (including dogwood, lilac, forsythia, flowering quince, or saucer magnolia) need a cut back, take out the trimmers right after the flowers fade. This helps ensure that you get plenty of blooms next year.
Deadhead Your Flowers
~ It sounds harsh, but deadheading is simply the act of cutting spent flowers from your plants. It will make your plants look better, help reduce problems with pests and diseases, and may even encourage your plants to bloom more.
Don’t Fertilize YET
Don’t jump the gun and feed your lawn too early. In most areas it’s best to wait another month or two when the grass starts actively growing.
