Finally, March is here, which means spring is officially here soon. Yeah! March is the month that we gardeners have been looking forward to, more so this year than ever because of how rough our winter has been up to this point. It has been a few years since we have experienced a winter like this year. We have been cold, snowy, and icy. We now deserve to have spring here.
But, not to be pessimistic about this winter, we did have a lot of rain—especially in February. Our soil, rivers, reservoirs, and underground aquifers have a positive moisture surplus. Another positive about this winter is that our plants are still dormant here in early March. If you noticed, we have very few daffodils in bloom right now. Our early blooming trees, such as the Okame Cherry, are still not in bloom. I guess what I am saying is that I want to be on the good side of Mother Nature right now so that she delivers us a wonderful spring season in 2025 that we all deserve.
March means that hibernation is finally over and we can spend more time outside. Our daylight is getting longer. Daylight Saving Time kicks in Sunday, March 9th, which gives us more sunny hours in the evening to get home from work or school and enjoy being outside. Spring is here officially on Thursday, March 20th. I couldn’t be happier for all of us.
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature”
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
SATURDAY, MARCH 15 – SPRING GARDENERS’ FAIR
SATURDAY, MARCH 22 – WEATHER IN THE GARDEN
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HERE ARE SOME VERY IMPORTANT CHORES TO DO IN MARCH
- March is a good month to get started in your vegetable garden. Now is the time to plant leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, and other leafy vegetables in the cooler season. These cool-season vegetables grow well in cooler soil temperatures and cooler air temperatures. So, jump onto this bandwagon. Growing veggies is a strong gardening trend—even growing these veggies in containers. Not to mention the cost savings from the grocery store, and you can’t beat the freshness and the excellent taste.
- Early March is a good time to prune evergreens like hollies, boxwoods, and hedges. BUT, ONLY IF NEEDED. If you like the look now, then don’t prune. Pruning will alter the natural growing habit and beauty of your plants.
- If you had a problem with crabgrass last year, you will have a problem again this year unless you do something about it. Now is the time to put down a pre-emergent crabgrass preventer on your lawn. The one product that I like to recommend to customers is the Espoma Organic Weed Preventer with Corn Gluten. This product works by keeping the sprouted unwanted weeds, such as crabgrass, from generating any root system. No roots = no weed growth.
- March is a good month to feed your plants. I love recommending using any of the appropriate Espoma products, such as Plant-tone, Holly-tone, Garden-tone, Rose-tone, etc. It’s a great product line that you can’t go wrong with.
HAPPY MARCH EVERYONE & “PLANT A LITTLE HAPPINESS”