March in the Garden

Almost to the finish line! Our average last frost date is March 15th, so

don't stress...you're not too late :)

Cool season annuals like petunias and marigolds love this weather! The soil temperature is still too cool for your vincas and pentas just yet.
All vegetables are up for grabs this month - cool seasons (kale, lettuce) and warm season (tomatoes, peppers) with the exception of melons and okra. Nearly all herbs are also ready to get into the ground
Trees and shrubs - The earlier the better! They will thank you for the spring rains and cool weather before the brutal summer heat, so don't delay!
Perennials - Dividing and relocating as needed
Bulbs - Don't be shy! These inexpensive plants will continue to give long after you've forgotten you planted them :) Gladiolus, Lilies of all sorts, and Alliums won't let you down.

Fertilize - Now is the time to fertilize your existing landscape. Your lawn, your dormant trees, your perennials, everything that has been in the ground for 3+ months will soak up that extra nutrition when they are budding with leaves and flowers this spring.
Weeding - Resist the temptation to focus too heavily on the new and exciting plants you're putting in. Make sure you've cleared your beds of those early season weeds and dormant burmuda grass
Watering - If you've got a sprinkler system, do a test run before planting anything new. Look for breaks in the lines, excess water pooling around trees, and random patches of greener that seem out of place. Do this early in the month in case you need professional assistance as they book up fast!

THIS one remains on the list year round, so don't ignore it!
This month, don't be afraid to work your old mulch into your garden beds...it decomposes and works like free fertilizer! Doing this also clears to area for planting your spring annuals and perennials and makes the reapplication of new mulch that much easier.

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