March in the garden
THE ALMANAC Average temperature: High 79, low 56 Rainfall: 3.54 inches Spring arrives: March 19
1. MOON PHASES
Last quarter: March 3 New moon: March 10 First quarter: March 17 Full moon: March 25
2. MOON SIGN PLANTING DATES
Above-ground crops: 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24 Below-ground crops: 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 27, 28, 29
Control weeds: 7, 8, 15, 16 Prune trees & shrubs: 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 20, 21, 30, 31
TIME TO PLANT
3. Vegetables: Bean, calabaza, cantaloupe, cassava, chayote, corn, cucumbers, dasheen, eggplant, Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, luffa, malanga, New Zealand spinach, okra, pepper, pumpkin, southern peas, squash, tamarillo, tomato, and watermelon
4. Flowers: African daisy, ageratum, alyssum, bacopa, balsam, begonia, blackeyed Susan, blue daze, bush-daisy, celosia, cleome, coreopsis, cosmos, dahlia, dahlberg daisy, diascia, dusty miller, four o’clock, gaillardia, geranium, goldenrod, impatiens, Joseph’s coat, licorice plant, marigold, melampodium, million bells, moon vine, morning glory, nierembergia, salvia, strawflower, torenia, verbena, vinca and zinnia
5. Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, borage, cardamon, chervil, chives, coriander, costmary, dill, fennel, ginger, lemon balm, sweet marjoram, Mexican tarragon, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and watercress
Achimenes, African iris, African-lily, amaryllis, blood lily, bulbine, caladium, canna, crinum, crocosmia, dahlia,
6. Bulbs:
daylily, eucharis lily, gingers, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, Louisiana iris, rain lily, tuberose and walking iris
LAWN CARE
7. St. Augustine, Bahia and Bermuda lawns are ready for a lawn fertilizer application.
8. Delay feedings of centipede and zoysia lawns until they begin to regreen.
9. Substitute a weed and feed fertilizer if needed to control weeds.
10. Some weed control products cannot be used near trees and shrubs; check label restrictions.
11. Have persistent weeds identified to determine the best control.
12. Some lawns have brown leaf blades; rake them out or allow the new green blades to fill in.
13. Mow lawns at their normal height; there is no need to change blade height for spring.
14. Hurry to remove patches of brown weeds and resod the areas.
15. Crabgrass started growth; use of a preemergence for control may be of little value.
16. Due to the warm winter, chinch bugs may get an early start; apply an insecticide as needed.
17. Spot treat fire ants in lawns; then treat the entire lawn following label instructions.
18. It’s seeding time for bahia and centipede lawns.
19. New watering rules begin March 10 with daylight-saving time.
20. Water only when the grass begins to wilt and as permitted.
21. Consider a substitute ground cover in hard-tomow or problem areas where grass won’t grow.
22. Have lawn care equipment serviced; change oil, check air filters and sharpen blades.
IN THE LANDSCAPE
23. Cool & warm seasons meet in March; continue to plant most cool and warm season flowers.
24. Take a look at bulb displays; many are Florida favorites and make great landscape additions.
25. Add trees, palms, shrubs and vines to the landscape.
26. Water new plantings frequently until they grow roots into the surrounding soils.
27. Weeds kept growing during winter; control now before they become too plentiful.
28. Renew mulch layers and consider the use of a preemergence herbicide to prevent weeds.
29. It is pruning time; control your landscape by trimming out-of-bounds shoots and limbs.
30. Wait to prune spring flowering shrubs until the blossoms fade.
31. Be kind to crape myrtles by only removing seed pods and twiggy portions.
32. Trees may need trimming; have work performed by professionals before hurricane season.
33. Trim declining fronds and old flower stems from palms but leave the green.
34. Complete pruning of bush-type roses; prune climbers when the spring blooms fade.
35. Trim poinsettias to within 12- to 18-inches of the soil and begin feedings.
36. Clear perennial plantings of debris and add new selections.
37. Winter is not over until mid-month; be ready to protect cold-sensitive plants.
38. Apply a spring feeding to palms, shrubs, ground covers and perennials.
39. Established shade and flowering trees normally do not need special feedings.
40. Warm winter weather kept the insects active; check regularly for pests.
41. Conserve. Water only when established plants show signs of wilting or moisture stress.
42. Divide and replant perennials.
43. Replant container gardens with spring flowers.
44. Trim and divide ornamental grasses before they begin spring growth.
45. Divide outdoor orchids and begin every other week feedings with a fertilizer solution
46. Turn fallen leaves into compost or use as mulch.
47. Feed container gardens with a slow-release fertilizer following label instructions.
48. Give power equipment a spring check-up.
49. Clean birdhouses, bird baths and fountains.
50. Remove debris from water gardens and repot lilies.
VEGETABLE AND FRUIT CARE
51. Early March is tomato, pepper and eggplant planting time; set new plants in the ground.
52. Keep covers handy to protect cold-sensitive crops until mid-month.
53. Remove winter vegetables as they decline and plant warm-season crops.
54. Select pest-resistant varieties to avoid insect and disease problems.
55. Plant short rows every few weeks of seeded crops to extend the harvest season.
56. Use bush-forming crops instead of vining types in crowded gardens.
57. Herbs flourish during the warm weather; almost all do well now.
58. Garden pests, including aphids, whiteflies and mites, are active; use a natural control.
59. Spring growth started early; complete all fruit tree pruning.
60. Prune cold-damaged tropical fruits to remove brown leaves and declining stems.
61. Learn the type of grapes you are growing to obtain proper pruning and care information.
62. Pineapples start flowering this month; maintain a good care program.
63. Feed all fruit bearing trees, shrubs and vines at this time.
64. Add new fruiting trees, shrubs and vines to the landscape.
65. Select warm locations for new tropical fruits.
66. Maintain citrus tree vigor with the first of the new year feedings.
67. Apply a minor nutrient spray to citrus trees at each flush of new growth
68. Control Asian psyllids; apply an insecticide labeled for citrus at each flush of growth.
69. Add container herb and vegetable gardens to crowded landscapes.
70. Construct raised beds for easy maintenance.
71. Add a mulch to all but citrus plantings.
72. Fertilize vegetables lightly every 2 to 3 weeks or use a slow-release fertilizer.
73. Train vining vegetables to a trellis to save space.
74. Sprout sweet potatoes to produce transplants.
75. Install water-conserving sprinklers in fruit and vegetable plantings.
FOLIAGE & INDOOR PLANT CHORES
76. Some outdoor foliage plants may have been affected by the cold; trim and increase care.
77. Repot plants filling their containers with roots.
78. Replace declining plants with low-light tolerant varieties.
79. Groom indoor plants to remove yellowing leaves and faded blooms.
80. Trim Christmas and holiday cactus and begin more frequent waterings and feedings.
81. Wash dust and pests from indoor plant foliage with a mild soapy solution.
82. Move orchids outdoors or to a bright area and begin every other week feedings.
83. Treat forced bulbs as bouquets, but keep the pots.
84. Check for mealy bugs, mites and other pests.
85. Visit a local plant show to obtain new varieties for the home and patio.