Chores abound between the storms
It was a year ago at this time that North Coast gardeners were faced with the exact same weather that is pummeling our gardens today. Flood, hail, sleet, snow and wind all conspired against those of us eager for spring to begin. But soon the March garden will dry out and garden projects will commence. Here are a few chores that need doing between the storms of March.
FERTILIZE: Regardless of rain, early spring is the time to begin feeding roses, blueberries, rhododendrons, perennials, spring flowering bulbs and the lawn. This is the month to fertilize the garlic patch as well. Applying fertilizer mixes composed of natural materials like alfalfa meal, bone meal, blood meal, soybean meal, manure and the like encourages beneficial bacteria and microbes to flourish. In the end you feed the soil so it can feed the plants.
PRUNE: There is no end to pruning chores this month. Grab the pruners, sharpen them up and begin cutting. Fruit trees, roses, blueberries and ragged perennials can be trimmed early this month.
PLANT VEGETABLES: These days you will find at local nurseries fresh starts of cool season vegetables like lettuce, spinach, kale, Asian greens, chard, potatoes and the like. Hardy herbs include parsley, chives, rosemary, oregano and thyme. Too wet to get into the garden to dig? Try growing an early spring garden in containers.
SOW SEEDS: Only when the soil begins to warm up and dry out in your garden, should you begin to sow seeds of peas, spinach, chard and onions. It is still too cold and wet to start carrots this month. If you do sow carrots early expect a long and erratic germination time.
One way to warm up the soil after sowing seeds is to cover the seed bed with a blanket of row cover. This will warm up the soil a bit and keep it from drying out on those sunny, windy days that are surely on their way.
CLEAN UP: Weeding, mulching, pruning back spent perennials top the clean-up list this month. Clearing the garden of useless clutter will make life uncomfortable for slimy critters like slugs and snails.
BEWARE: Organic slug baits containing iron phosphate are effective, but not immediate. This means apply them a week or so before planting out those tender, yummy transplants.
Terry Kramer is the retired site manager for the Humboldt Botanical Garden and a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. She currently runs a gardening consulting business. Contact her at 707-8342661 or terrykramer90@ gmail.com.