March welcomes ‘Spring’, and it will
be met with open arms this year!! This is the month to open up the gardens and
get things in shape for the new growing season, which means there is plenty
that can be done. To name a few; mowing time is upon us; have you sharpened
those mower blades? To keep that lawn looking fantastic, it is time to add
Fertilizer with Crabgrass Prevention. Make sure to follow directions and do not
try to skimp on the amount of product used, so you get great coverage from the
Crabgrass Prevention. If you feel you need to over-seed the lawn, check with
the professionals on proper steps for spring treatments.
Clean up those perennial beds and
cut down all Liriope and Ornamental Grasses to about 3-5” above the ground.
Once this has been done, it is time to re-mulch your shrub and flower beds. Top-dress
these areas with a slow release fertilizer as well, such as Osmocote.
Nesting boxes for Bluebirds and
Purple Martin houses should be put out early this month. Purple Martins return
to our area between St. Patrick’s Day and the end of the month. So now is the
time to be prepared. And I would like to encourage to continue feeding the
birds through May because fledglings will be hatching, and it may be too early
for nature to have grown enough of a food source for the baby birds.
Are
you considering doing some vegetable gardening this year? Well there is no
better time than now to start those preparations. You can start seed in the
house for plants such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Plant or sow seed for
peas, lettuce, radish, kohlrabi, collards, turnips, potatoes, spinach, onion
sets, beets, carrots, and parsley outside this month. Set out broccoli,
cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and pansy transplants now. This month is
also good to set out strawberries, blueberries, blackberries grapes and other
fruiting plants. It is likely we will see an influx of home gardening this
year. It can be done in containers on the patio, as square foot gardens, or
large plot gardening. There is nothing better than a home-grown tomato!! And it is always good to know where your food
came from. Get the kids involved, nature
is awesome!!
Now it is time to go, so we will
“See you in the garden!”
Sandi Hillermann
McDonald
