March To Do

                March is upon us and we are all itching to get out into the gardens and begin gardening during this official start to Spring (Spring arrives on March 20th!), though the past winter has been much more like Spring than Winter.  If not already done, now is the time to get the clumps of ornamental grasses trimmed before they get actively growing.  As the month ends and the Spring bulbs we planted last Fall begin to emerge it is time to get the winter mulch off the beds.  Be sure to check perennial crowns that may have heaved during the winter, gently reburying and mulching them for the coming season.  It is a great time to get the compost bin or pile ready for the garden debris being cleaned off the garden beds and yard.  Be careful as you are working in the gardens, though, to avoid walking in wet garden soil, it will compact the soil and make the gardens tougher to work with once it is dried out.  That goes for any tilling you may want to do also, only till once the soil is frost free and crumbles freely in your hand.

                Take time to prune your fruit trees and raspberry shrubs.  It is also a great time to begin training your vining fruits and pruning for stronger vines and better production this year.  As the days get warmer and the rose bushes begin waking up it is time to get rid of the dead canes and clean up shrub roses, pruning them back for strong growth this summer.  And while out checking out the shrubs in the garden, prune a few forsythia and pussy willow boughs to bring in and force for some indoor spring color.  And be sure to bring in those pots of tulips and daffodils you potted up last fall and patiently have chilled to brighten your indoor spaces with spring blooms.

                Indoors continue to monitor houseplants for pests and disease treating as needed.  It is a great time to begin fertilizing, using half strength fertilizer to help wake up dormant plants.  It is also a great time to repot houseplants, so you aren’t rushed later this Spring when you are ready to take them outdoors for the Summer.  Start checking those seed packets you purchased over the winter months, and be sure to check out your local seed source for more seeds to plant, to see when you need to start for spring planting outdoors.  Check your last frost date, and count backwards to decide when to start seeds.  With days lengthening it is easier to start those seeds and get them a head start for Spring planting in the gardens.

                If you are planning on starting ‘native or natural’ garden space this year, it is time to till and prepare the space for seeding.  Once your seedlings begin to emerge you will know where you will have bare spots for plugs and plants you will find later this Spring and Summer as you purchase additional plants for your garden.

                Those of you in the planting mode can begin planting bare root trees and shrubs, mulching well to protect plantings from the stresses of growing.  It is a great time to plant conifers and hedges, since many are still dormant and will benefit from being planted before the stress of summer heat and conifers break bud.

                And don’t forget to enjoy the fresh colors of the first bloomers in the garden while you are out working.  Forsythia, hellebores, tulips, crocus, daffodils, and snowdrops offer the promise of the return of the color to the gardens, while the smell of the wet dirt reminds us that our gardens are soon to be reborn for another garden season.

Not just the Usual, but the Unusual too!

Address:
1895 East Army Post Road
Des Moines, IA 50320-1817

Phone: (515) 288-6768
Email: info@quiltedgardens.com