to do list for gardens – Page 4 – Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

By Gary Crispell, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

BOLO (be on the lookout) for early spring bloomers including star magnolia (Magnolia stellata), daffodils (Narsisus spp.) perhaps covered in late snow or bathed in warm sunshine, and the Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis). (Image credit: Melinda Heigel)

March: noun, the third month of the Julian calendar, verb from middle French meaning to trample. It appears that boots (not jack) might be in order.

By the time Y’all read this winter may be gone—or not. The weather pattern may have changed to a drier more user-friendly one—or not. We might be able to get out and work in our gardens—or not. It might snow another 3 or 6″ to complement the already prodigious amount we’ve received. Welcome to piedmont North Carolina in the spring where we beg for more/less rain, sunshine, wind, whatever we don’t currently have and decry perceived excesses of anything. Gardeners can be a needy lot, but there is always hope. We are nothing if not hopeful and optimistic. We KNOW it (whatever “it” is) will get better and things will be just fine.

So, here are the things that can/should be done in the garden in March depending on all the things in the earlier paragraph. Happy gardening!

Lawn Care

(Image credit: NC State Extension)

Cool season grasses (tall fescue, bluegrass, perennial rye) can be fertilized with a slow release high nitrogen (the first number) fertilizer.

Apply preemergent weed control after the forsythia (Forsythia intermedia) blooms and before the native dogwoods (Cornus florida) bloom. (That there is real science.)

Commence mowing activities when needed (or when the mower no longer mires in the mud). Cool season grasses should be kept mown at 3” to 4.” Warm season grasses (zoysia, Bermuda, centipede) are still dormant. You get to play with them next month.

Remember, grass clippings should either be left on the lawn, composted, or used for mulch. They don’t belong in the landfill.

Fertilizing

Feed your shrubbery this month. Established plants do not need heavy fertilizing. Let “moderation in all things” be your mantra. Shade trees can be fertilized now, but only if your SOIL TEST (free again beginning April 1 through November) indicates a need.

Emerging bulbs can be fertilized this month. Fertilize asparagus beds early in March, before the new spears emerge.

Planting

As usual, everything in this section is dependent upon soil conditions.

Trees and shrubs may be planted now as well as fruit trees and grape vines up to bud break. Plants planted now will require more intentional water management through our oft droughty summer.

March is a good time to plant perennials.

Start annuals and warm season vegetables inside now if you haven’t already done so. These can be transplanted outside after the threat of frost has gone. (No bets on that date anymore.)

Rose bushes can be planted now.

The same veggies that can be planted in the fall can also be planted now (unless, of course, you are sick to death of broccoli and beets). These include the aforementioned broccoli, beets, carrots, cabbages, cauliflower, potatoes and turnips. Then there are the salad greens, lettuces, spinach, chard, etc. So, in May it’ll be salad and roasted root vegetables for supper?

Pruning

Prune any fruit trees that didn’t get done in February.

Deadhead any early spring annuals such as pansies (Viola x hybrids) as the blooms fade in order to prolong bloom time.

Roses can be pruned in the latter half of the month.

Overgrown broadleaf shrubs can still be severely whacked. (No, it won’t kill them, and they be much more manageable—for a while.)¹

Spraying

The following miscreant pests will be out and about this time of the year: euonymus scale, spider mites on evergreens, hybrid rhododendron borers, and lace bugs on azaleas. Spray only as necessary with an appropriate product and always read and follow label directions.

Apply a dormant oil to fruit trees to control several insects. This is especially important if you have just pruned the trees.

When in bloom, spray apple and pear trees with streptomycin to prevent fire blight.

Other Swell Stuff You Can Do in March

Get ready for prime time. Check all your gardening equipment and make sure it will be ready to go when you need it. Nothing is more frustrating than being all psyched up to mow the grass (I have heard there really are people for whom this is a reality) only to discover that the starter battery is dead, the blades need to be sharpened, all the tires are flat, the belt that broke last fall didn’t fix itself over the winter, all the things. Check all the garden gizmos now and prevent a possible psychotic break later.

Try experimenting with a new annual, perennial or veggie this season. Experimenting can be fun, and you might just discover a new BFF plant. Also, experimenting has been shown to have very few side effects.

North Carolina Arbor Day (not to be confused with National Arbor Day) is this month. It is always the first Friday after the 15^th, ergo on the 21st this year. Plant a tree or seven.

Get a few of your summer clothes out of the attic but keep your heavy winter jacket close by. You could need both in the same day.

Mellow March, Y’all.

Notes

1–Keep in mind, many woody ornamentals are pruned according to their flowering date. Spring bloomers like dogwood or forsythia are usually pruned after they bloom. Summer-flowering plants are generally best pruned when dormant before new growth begins in the spring.

Resources and Additional Information

Learn more about organic lawn care: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/organic-lawn-care-a-guide-to-organic-lawn-maintenance-and-pest-management

How to read a fertilizing label like a pro: https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/reading-a-fertilizer-label

Spring vegetable gardening: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/home-vegetable-gardening-a-quick-reference-guide

Read our blog article on year round vegetable gardening for early springtime tips: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-2F1

Pruning techniques for trees and shrubs: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/general-pruning-techniques

Guide to cleaning and sharpening garden tools: https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/download/how-to-clean-and-sharpen-garden-tools_MF3288

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5Eg

By Gary Crispell, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

*A stellar dendrite snow crystal.* (Image Credit: Kenneth Libbrecht, Caltech)

Wow! Two snows in ten days. Grandma always said that if snow sticks around for a week, it’s just awaitin’ for company. This is one of the few times I’m glad I don’t live at the beach. It’s not often in North Carolina that one can clear their driveway of snow with a backpack blower, but it sure beats slingin’ a shovel. Give me powder snow any day over the wet stuff. Dendrites vs. plates. Yup. Perfect. Way better than the experiences of my youth in upstate New York. It was usually powder, but way too much of it at one time for the blower (which didn’t exist then).

So, now we can have spring, right? No?? Oh. The seeds you ordered from the catalog haven’t A) arrived, B) sprouted, C) grown to transplant size, D) all of the above? Pick one. Unfortunately, the deadline for this is before February 2, so I’m unable to say how much longer winter will last. The prematurely-plucked-from-hibernation prognosticator has not yet “spoken.” However, it’s supposed to be sunny on Sunday. Draw your own conclusion.

While we’re all waiting for whatever, there are a few things we can do to remind us that we are all gardeners, after all, and Spring isn’t nearly as far away as it was at the winter solstice.

Lawn Care

Time for the second most important fertilizer application for cool-season grasses (tall fescue & bluegrass). Apply a slow-release product as per the recommendation of the SOIL TEST I know you took in the Fall.

Late this month or early March is the ideal time to apply preemergent crabgrass control to all lawns. Do it before the dogwoods (Cornus florida) bloom to achieve optimum control. Accuracy is important. Read the label and calibrate your spreader. Too little product will not give good control. Too much may damage the turf.

Fertilizer

See LAWN CARE above & PLANTING below.

Planting

Here we go! The long wait is over. Get your hands dirty. Early indications are that we won’t have to worry about mud or frozen fingers. Work that soil. At least be ready in case we get some moisture. Stick some salad greens and root vegetables in the ground. Things that will tolerate early planting include (in alphabetical order, no less) cabbage, carrots, leaf lettuce, onions, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, and turnips. For sure, you tested the soil in the Fall when it was free and added the lime recommended by NCDOA. Now, add the fertilizer.

There is nothing better than fresh veggies from the garden. Plant carrots and leafy greens today so you can enjoy them tomorrow. (Image Credit: Marcia Kirinus)

Pruning

Last call for pruning fruit trees and bunch grapes. It’s also a perfect time to trim summer-flowering shrubs and trees e.g., Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) (Please avoid severe pruning of crape myrtles, otherwise known as “crape murder.” It isn’t good for the tree, and it certainly messes with its aesthetics.), butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), and hydrangeas that bloom on new wood (H. arborescens & H. paniculata).

Ornamental grasses should be cut back this month before the new growth emerges.

This is also the best time to do any major remedial pruning of broadleaf evergreen shrubs. If they’re way overgrown, go for it. They can be cut back 12” to 18” and not only survive but thrive.

Spraying

Those of you with fruit trees, it’s time to break out the sprayer. Peaches and nectarines need a fungicide application to control leaf curl. Spraying your fruit trees with dormant oil now will help control several insects later in the year.

More Freezing Finger February Fun Stuff

Do some hardwood cutting propagation. This time of the year, you can take cuttings from plants like crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.), flowering quince (Chaenomeles spp.), junipers (Juniperus spp.), spiraea (Spiraea spp.), and weigela (Weigela spp.). Then play with them. There’s a Propagation Team at the Extension Master Gardener volunteer HQ. They love to share their extensive knowledge if you so desire.

Perennials can be divided.

Make the bluebird of happiness happy by cleaning out her house. She and her mate will reward you by moving in come Spring.

One last thing. There’s this sorta special holiday that we usually celebrate with plant material of some sort in the middle of the month. Order it now or sleep on the couch on February 15th. FYI, flowers as a gift are gender-neutral. Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all.