MARCH GARDENING TIPS

• Citrus – Plant citrus. ‘Meyer’ lemon, ‘Marrs’ sweet orange, ‘Melogold’ grapefruit, ‘Minneola’ ‘tangelo’ and ‘nagami’ kumquat are a few varieties to plant. Fertilize established citrus around the outer edge of their canopy with ammonium sulfate.

• Vegetables – sow seeds for beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, radishes, and spinach. sow seeds for cucumber, melons, pumpkin, okra, zucchini, squash, bush beans and sweet corn. set out transplants of peppers and tomatoes.

• Annuals – sow seeds for zinnia, coneflower, sunflower, hollyhock, nasturtium, clarkia, larkspur, sweet pea and California poppy. deadhead blossoms on annuals to encourage more flowers. Plant transplants for petunia, stock and marigolds.

• Perennials – Plant verbena, vinca and ice plant for groundcovers. Plant chrysanthemum, coral fountain, shasta daisy, statice, desert ruellia, penstemon, salvia, lantana and delphinium.

• Bulbs and Rhizomes

– Plant ranunculus, amaryllis, cannas, spider lily, tiger flower and rain lily. amaryllises are planted with at least half the bulb above ground, cannas are planted 6 inches below ground and rain lilies are planted just below ground. allow leaves to dry completely once bulbs have bloomed before removing them to help strengthen the bulb for next year’s blooms.

• Trees – Plant fruit trees for zones 10-11, such as ‘anna smith’ or ‘dorsett Gold’ apple, cascalote, Texas mountain laurel, palo verde, desert willow, Texas olive, pomegranate, sweet acacia, royal Poinciana, orchid tree, Mission fig and jacaranda. Plant pecan trees. Thin fruit on deciduous fruit trees to prevent limb breakage. Leave one fruit every 4-6 inches. If you haven’t fertilized your fruit trees, fertilize deciduous fruit trees with ammonium nitrate and water well.

• Shrubs – Plant bougainvillea, hibiscus, myrtle, brittlebush, wolfberry, chuparosa, butterfly bush, fairy duster, emu bush or yellow bells. Prune established perennials to the size that fits their location.

• Herbs – sow seeds or set out transplants for anise, basil, catnip, epazote, fennel, sage and lemon grass.

• Roses – Fertilize established roses.

• Cacti and Succulents – Plant using a fast-draining soil mix. Cut back cholla and prickly pear if they are becoming too large for their space.

• Vines – Plant passion flower, black-eyed susan vine, cup and saucer, yellow orchid, purple coral, queen’s wreath, cross vine and cat claw vine. Plant grapes, bareroot or container. If not leafed out, prune established grape vines back to four original canes, two horizontally in one direction and two the other direction (each around 6 foot in length).