LET’S TALK GARDENING – Marching Into Spring

MARCH IS THE MONTH THAT WE, GARDENERS, HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO!!!!!!!

Finally!!!!  March has arrived and we start to come out of hibernation and start “working out” in our gardens.  Mid-February gave us a good taste of winter with some snow, ice, and cold temperatures.  But, that’s OK.  That was last month.  March is here.   I am so excited!!!!  I hope you are excited as well.

I titled this blog “Marching into Spring” because we are using this tag line to tout our free seminars each Saturday through the whole month of March.  The first seminar is this coming Saturday, March 6, at 10:00.  This seminar will be on vegetable gardening.

Two big events occur in March that excites gardeners and they both occur within the same week:  One is Daylight Saving Time beginning Sunday, March 14 and the other event is the official beginning of the spring season on Saturday, March 20.

HERE ARE A FEW IMPORTANT GARDENING CHORES TO DO IN MARCH

  1. PLEASE WATCH OUR WEATHER FORECAST  –  Technically, it is still winter and we have the potential to have freezing days and nights.  If this should occur then you may want to consider draping cloth or blankets over any shrubs that are showing new spring growth or in bloom.  Cover with burlap or a blanket.  Never use plastic as a covering because plastic will trap in the moisture underneath and that moisture will freeze and could cause damage.
  2. March is a safe month to think about pruning your evergreen shrubs like boxwoods, hollies, junipers, and others.  BUT, ONLY IF THEY NEED TO BE TRIMMED!
  3. March is a good month to give our evergreen shrubs their first feeding of the growing season.  I love the ESPOMA line of plant food such as PLANT TONE, HOLLY TONE, GARDEN TONE, etc.
  4. If you have a pussy willow shrub – after pussy willow catkins have passed their prime, prune the plant drastically to encourage long branch growth this year which will then produce large catkins for next year.
  5. March is a good month to add an inch or two of fresh mulch around your shrubs and trees.
  6. FOR WEED CONTROL:  Before putting down new mulch on your landscape beds, consider apply the product PREEN.  Preen will help keep weeds from germinating.  Then put the mulch on top of the Preen and this combination will give your landscape garden beds a one / two punch in fighting weeds.
  7. March is a good month for planting your cole crop vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, arugula, and more.  Cole crop vegetables are tolerant and thrive in cooler air and soil temperatures.

COME SEE US EVERY SATURDAY FOR THE FREE EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS.  FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK.  BE SURE TO SIGN UP TO BE ONE OF OUR VIP CUSTOMERS.  EXCITING GARDENING TIMES ARE HAPPENING!!

To read more from Doug, visit our blog

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