Health & Fitness
MARCH GARDEN TASKS
I am glad we finally got a bit of rain...I hope it continues through the rest of the month!
Interesting article from Pacific Horticulture magazine about pollinators and attracting them to your garden:
Find out what's happening in San Leandrowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Turn on irrigation systems later this month if we don’t get any more rain...once a week is good for now, days are still short. Drip irrigation: consider flushing system and check for any leaks (or mini-geysers!) Sprinklers: make sure grass or other plants are not blocking the water spray and that everything is in good working order.
Prune dormant and deciduous plants before they leaf out.
Find out what's happening in San Leandrowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Prune azaleas after they finish blooming; remove dead, touching and crossing branches. Prune for nice shape as well. Remove old blossoms.
Remove old rhododendron blooms in the next couple of months...but be careful not to damage growth underneath. Prune for height and air circulation if needed.
Cut back ornamental grasses It’s a good time now since new growth should just be appearing now. Cut grass back to about 6 to 12” tall (depending on size of plant) with pruners or shears. Shears work great on the larger grasses.
Towards middle of month cut off frost-damage from plants. Cut back to green growth.
Fertilize roses after they leaf out.
Fertilize azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons.
Weed Pull up weeds before they flower and set seed. Remember, weeds are the most successful plants in the world! They go through the reproductive phase quickly so pull them now!
Remove snails and slugs now Look in dark, shady places and eliminate!
Pick up old camellia flowers off the ground to prevent disease.
Daffodils, paperwhites and other winter-blooming bulbs As flowers wither its best to let the foliage die back versus cutting off...this allows nutrients in leaves to return back to the bulb for next year’s flowers. If bulbs are front and center in your garden, consider tie-ing up the leaves for a neater appearance or plant annuals in front to hide yellowing leaves.
Time to plant annuals, perennials and shrubs after danger of frost has passed.
Vegetable and Fruit Garden
Prune fruit trees, cane berries and grapes. Prune for light and air circulation...important for fruit ripening and disease prevention. Also can make large, structural cuts now if needed. Clean up old leaves and weeds.
Fertilize fruit trees.
Fertilize citrus with high-nitrogen and iron food. Especially important to prevent chlorosis …yellowing leaves with green veins.
Add a thick layer of mulch under fruit trees to keep moisture in soil and suppress weeds.
Sow tomato and other vegetable seeds indoors.
Read more of Angele's gardening and landscaping tips in the Patch Archives.
