March Gardening Tips

Planning

Choose planting areas based on exposure to sun, shade, and wind; consider distance from water source
Test for soil types and pH levels before major planting

Carefully remove winter mulches from planting beds
Dig beds in preparation for spring planting as soon as earth is friable
Add compost in four to six inch layers and work into planting bed soil
Remove protective cover from evergreens
Reset frost-heaved plants
Apply horticultural oil sprays to dormant trees and shrubs before buds open and if there is no danger of night frost
As ground becomes workable, de-thatch lawn; fill in low spots with soil; fertilize established lawns

Plant deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, weather and soil conditions permitting
Sow seeds of annuals and vegetables indoors that require 10-12 weeks before transplanting
Sow radish and lettuce seeds directly into the vegetable garden
Plant cold weather vegetables like spinach, peas, lettuce, and broccoli as soon as soil is workable
Plant and transplant perennials
Divide and transplant summer-blooming perennials
Soak mail order bare-root plants before planting
Plant roses

Prune all plant material to remove any diseased, dead, weak, or crossing branches
Complete tree pruning before new growth begins
Prune late-flowering shrubs such as buddleia and Hydrangea paniculata but wait until after flowering on early-flowering shrubs like forsythia, Hydrangea macrophylla, rhododendron, and syringa
Wait to prune evergreens, hedges, and other shrubs until late spring into early summer
Prune all fruit trees before growth begins
Prune hybrid tea roses, floribundas, and grandifloras but wait until after flowering on climbers and ramblers
Prune back leggy perennials
Cut back ornamental grasses to new shoots
Fertilize deciduous, broad-leaved and needle-leaved evergreen trees and shrubs if not fed in the fall
Apply fertilizer to roses as new growth begins
Fertilize and lime vegetable garden