March Gardening Chores

Plant roses now for best results. They are available bare root in packages & redi- plant boxes, fiber pots, and containerized. There are hundreds of types, colors and varieties to choose from:  Hybrid Teas, Grandifloras, Floribundas Climbers, Old Garden Antique and English Garden roses.

Apply pre-emergent crabgrass control to your lawn. Several good products will control those unwanted weeds in your grass. Remember, the best way to a healthy lawn is to prevent weeds from ever getting established in the yard. A pre-emergent applied according to the directions will act as a barrier, and kill weed seed as it germinates. Apply it NOW to give it maximum exposure to potential rainfall.

Over the last several years, Barricade has been very effective for crabgrass control in university pre-emergence herbicide trials. It has a long residual and has even given season-long control of crabgrass when applied the previous fall. The active ingredient in Barricade has a low solubility in water; consequently, it appears to require more irrigation (or rainfall) to move it into the soil (i.e., to activate it). An inch of water should be sufficient to activate Barricade. You may need to apply this amount of water in several short cycles to avoid runoff. If you are relying on natural rainfall to activate Barricade, you should apply it NOW to give it maximum exposure to potential rainfall.

Balan has long been the standard of the industry, and continues to perform well. Betasan is another pre-emergent that will perform as well, but lasts three times as long. Thus, weeds will be controlled from late winter into spring. The alternative would be to apply 2 applications of balan. Both of these products prevent "nuisance" grasses (crabgrass, goose grass, etc.) from germinating.  Portrait is a good product that controls broadleaf weeds (dandelions,lambsquarter, purslane, etc.).

Fescue lawns can be started or over-seeded this month. See Our Publication: Cool Season Grasses

If you haven't already started your vegetable garden, now is the time. Seed potatoes, onion sets and slips, asparagus, shallots, garlic, horseradish and strawberries can be planted.

Cole crops should be set out, too, if planted in a protected area. These are cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. Be sure to till your soil and work in 10-20-10 first.  

Tomatoes and other warm season crops can be set out if you use a cold frame, milk jug or a "wall o' water".  

Take home a new house plant.

 Tropical plants are plentiful in garden centers and nurseries this time of year. Great houseplant are: majesty, kentia or sago palms, ficus ali, arboricola trees, braided and twisted weeping fig trees, corn plants, peace lilies, kimberly queen ferns, chinese evergreens, pothos hanging baskets, philodendrons and many many more. Take home an orchid, bromeliad, tillandsia or bonsai plant.

Plant pansies for late winter and early spring color. They come in blue, yellow, purple, red, pink, white and antique shades.

Plant seeds of your favorite annual and perennial flowers.