March Garden Guide

March Garden Guide

  • Plant tuberous rooted begonias indoors early month
  • Begin regular fertilization of houseplants
  • March is a good month to make cuttings of many houseplants.
  • Order perennial plants and specify that they are to be delivered when the ground is workable.
  • Start seeds of slow-growing annuals.  Transfer them as appropriate in April to cold frame.
  • Start bulbs of calla.  they will bloom from June to August.
  • Start seedlings of cabbage, celery, culiflower, head lettuce, and parsley.
  • Keep amaryllis foliage growing by watering and feeding.
  • Continue to inspect stored vegetables.  Anything showing signs of spoilage should be removed immediately and either used or discarded.
  • Don’t worry if spring-flowering bulbs are sending up green leaves.  The foliage can withstand winter weather.
  • March is the leanest month for wildlife, so protect shrubs and plants with wire cages or sprinkle ground with cat hair or blood meal.
  • Do not remove mulch from perennials too early.  Keep light covering of mulch over spring bulbs.
  • Rake off last season’s mulches on garden soil so it can dry and be warmed by the sun.  remove any plant residue from last year.
  • If the compost pile froze during winter, turn it now, and add fresh manure to help restart the composting process.
  • Finish pruning dormant trees.
  • Sharpen lawn mower blades and have mower serviced before spring rush.
  • If you fertilize, apply to shade trees, fruit trees and shrubs when buds swell, as well as to evergreens and raspberries.
  • Prune summer flowering (after end of June) shrubs.
  • Finish pruning grapes.  Non-dormant pruning will cause excessive bleeding
  • Finish dormant pruning of fruit trees and berry bushes. Remove diseased or infected branches.

Article taken from the Portage County Master Gardeners newsletter.

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