What’s Blooming For March

Plants and Flowers Blooming For March:

Tulips
Daffodils
Ranunculus
Hyacinth
Helleborus

Fruits and vegetables in season:

Strawberries
Basil
Asparagus
Rutabagas
Potatoes

Daffodils

Strawberries

Hellebores

Asparagus

Maintenance Tips For March

Fertilizing Needs This Month:

Early Spring is the time of year where most trees and shrubs love to start getting fertilized! Here is a list of plants that may be in need of fertilizer as they begin their growing season this March:

Hydrangeas
Butterfly bush
Roses
Abelia
Hollies
Nandinas
Loropetalums
Dogwood
Viburnum
Podocarpus

If you are unsure what kind of fertilizer is best for your plants, conduct an at home soil test to determine the kinds of nutrients your plant is lacking. The results of this test will tell you what kind of fertilizer you need to be using. Remember to avoid fertilizing newly planted evergreens during this time!

Pruning Needs For March:

Now is the time to start pruning your winter and early spring blooming plants. As their flowers begin to fade, begin to prune to promote new growth and more flowers during their next blooming cycle.

Pests and Diseases This Month:

Some common garden pests to keep an eye out for this March include slugs, snails, and aphids.

Snails and slugs:

These pests like to feed off of leaves, stems, seedlings, fruit and flowers and can cause large holes that can often deteriorate the health of the whole plant. To avoid a slug and/or snail infestation, try to keep your outdoor space dry during these early spring months. A quick and easy way to get rid of slugs and snails is to leave a bowl full of beer in your garden. Snails and slugs are attracted to the yeast in the beer, so it essentially acts as a pest trap.

Aphids:

Aphids also feed on all parts of the plants in your garden and can cause leaf curling and wilting or stunts in growth. A good way to get rid of aphids, as well as prevent them from infesting in the first place, is to spray a mixture of water and insecticidal soap onto your plants after you water them as normal.

Additional Monthly Tip:

March marks the start of the transition from cool-season gardening to warm-season gardening. As your cool-season annuals begin to shed their last blooms of their season, it is time to begin planting warm-season annuals in their place. Here is a list of some beautiful warm-season annuals that will bring your outdoor space to life this spring:

Marigold
Petunias
Snapdragons
Begonias
Verbena
Lobelia
Coleus

Upcoming Events:

This month we have the spring equinox coming up on March 20th. The day of the spring equinox marks when the sun crosses the earth’s equator, causing both day and night to become an equal length. This event symbolizes the official changing of the seasons, finally bringing us back into peak gardening season! For centuries the spring equinox has been celebrated worldwide to welcome the coming of spring, fertility, growth, and re-birth. Here are some ways that you can celebrate the spring equinox in your garden on March 20th: