March Horticulture Hints

They say that if March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb; or if it comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion. Who cares? Spring is coming either way—and eager gardeners are ready to face the lamb and the lion, and it doesn’t matter in which order they come.

Garden Tasks

Be prepared to protect new plants from an unexpected cold snap. Take the edge off the fever by planting a few hanging baskets or other containers that can be moved to protected places when a freeze is expected.

Clean up dead wood and stems of winter-killed perennials and shrubs. If summer and fall-blooming perennials need to be divided, this is the time.

Fertilize azaleas, camellias, and shrub beds if needed. Prune spring flowering shrubs when they finish blooming. Most plants are stimulated to grow as weather gets warmer and the sun rises higher. Fertilize all those showing new growth if needed, including plants inside and outside. Replenish mulch around flowers and shrubs to keep moisture levels even and help control weeds.

Mow liriope or mondo grass with the mower on its highest setting to remove dead foliage. Other groundcovers may benefit from a spring mowing, as well. Consider mowing purple heart, ornamental peanut, Asiatic jasmine, and other groundcovers if they look ragged after the winter. Ferns can be cut back to within 3 or 4 inches of the ground and expected to make a comeback. Check out your autumn fern, holly fern, leatherleaf ferns and others. You’ll be amazed at the attractive new growth that will follow a cutting back, fertilization, and good watering. Prune ornamental grasses to about 12 inches above the ground. Summer and fall flowering perennials may be divided as new growth starts.

Although it is a little early to put tender annuals in the garden, it is a good time to prepare the beds. Dig the area in which you intend to plant summer annuals. Remove competing roots and weeds. Dig in two or three inches of organic material. Peat moss, cow manure, and compost are all excellent soil amendments. Sprinkle a bit of slow release fertilizer on top of the prepared bed. Go ahead and apply mulch to keep weeds from sprouting and to hold in moisture and moderate soil temperatures.

By the first of April your bed will be perfect for adding annuals. Simply rake aside a small bit of mulch, dig a hole with a small trowel, and insert your plant so that the top of the rootball is even with the level of the soil. Push soil around the roots and pat the soil to snug it in. Do not let the mulch touch the stem of the new plants. Water thoroughly, and do not let the new transplants get too dry until they have established some new roots. Planted this way, your annuals should last most of the summer.

What to Plant

Plant bulbs of amaryllis, calla, canna, crocosmia, Eucharis, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, haemanthus, narcissus, zephyranthes, and iris. Seeds to plant include abelmoschus, ageratum, amaranth, balsam, begonia, celosia, cosmos, gomphrena, hibiscus, impatiens, marigold, thunbergia, vinca, and zinnia—as soon as danger of frost is past.

Plant bulbs of amaryllis, calla, canna, crocosmia, Eucharis, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, haemanthus, zephyranthes, and iris. Seeds to plant include abelmoschus, ageratum, amaranth, balsam, begonia, celosia, cosmos, gomphrena, hibiscus, impatiens, marigold, thunbergia, vinca, and zinnia.

In the vegetable garden plant beans, corn, cucumber, eggplant, melon, pepper, potato, pumpkin, and squash. Try a late crop of cool-season greens.

Blooming in March

The world is awash with color as perennials such as coreopsis, gaillardia, gerbera, Louisiana phlox, stokesia, verbena, and amaryllis bloom. Shrubs and trees such as azaleas, dogwood, redbud, forsythia, Indian hawthorn, spiraea, banana shrub, philadelphus, rose, guava, elaeagnus, hawthorn, silver-bell, fringe tree, Confederate jasmine, clematis, and honeysuckle sparkle in their corners. Colorful annuals of the season include the cool-weather plants such as sweet alyssum, calendula, flowering kale and cabbage, nasturtium, nemesia, pansy, petunia, poppy, and snapdragon.