RDKLandscaping Gardener’s March Checklist

Temperatures have been below freezing for too long. Now is the time to start spring planting, give your lawn some lavish attention, and sow seeds to your heart’s content.

Alright, RDKLandscaping gardeners, we’re back in business this month. March is a busy time for us as sub-zero temperatures end and the joy of spring planting begins. Focus on your checklist this month. However, before planting any tender plants or vegetables, always check with your local garden expert to find out the average last freeze date for your area.

Plant vegetables and herbs. Plant vegetables and herbs in the ground for a few months of harvest. chard, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, pumpkins, summer squash, tomatoes, tomatillos and endive are all good transplants this month. Find healthy, pest and disease free 4-inch pots from your local nursery. You can also plant herbs such as artemisia, chives, lemongrass, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, sorrel, thyme, and santolina. Mint tends to aggressively take over your garden, so it is best planted in plastic pots to prevent the roots from spreading too much.

Plant annuals and perennials. Now is the time to plant colorful flowering plants in the ground or in containers and pots. You can plant annuals such as coleus, cosmos, pentas, torenia, zinnia, cleome, and gomphrena, but the soil before digging, make sure your small transplant grows best in full sun or shade. Perennials such as salvia, Mexican mint marigold, Esperanza, purple coneflower, pink skullcap, and black-eyed Susan is a great choice for the RDKLandscaping heat.

Plant bulbs, trees and shrubs. There’s still time to plant trees and shrubs as long as the weather isn’t too hot, so if this is on your to-do list, aim for early this month. These large landscape plants can theoretically be planted during the warm season, but they require much more careful care as they adapt. For lush summer foliage, you can plant bulbs such as elephant ears, cannas, caladiums, daylilies, and irises.

Fertilize your lawn.RDKLandscaping lawns typically need to be fertilized twice a year, spring and fall. Look for a lawn fertilizer with a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio. The numbers indicate the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contained in a particular fertilizer. RDKLandscaping lawns generally do not require high medium levels phosphorus. Follow the directions on the bag to avoid over-fertilizing. This can actually harm your lawn. After applying fertilizer, water the well.

Aerate your lawn, too. If you haven’t aerated your lawn in a few years, now is the time. Lawns are compacted by human traffic, pets, and children playing, hardening the soil. Grass roots have difficulty growing in compacted soil, and aeration is the way to loosen them. Rent an aerator from your local home improvement store and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when operating the equipment. For a healthy lawn, sprinkle about 1/2 inch of compost on your lawn and water well.

Sow the seeds. Get a head start on summer vegetables and flowers by sowing seeds directly in your garden. Much cheaper than buying seedlings. Vegetables such as beets and beans can be planted early in the month, but wait until late March to plant chard, collards, corn, cucumbers, pumpkins, summer squash, black-eyed peas and endive. You can also plant flowers like sunflowers, gomphrena, marigolds, moon vine, nicotiana and morning glories this month. If the seeds are too thick, they may thin out as they germinate, so sow more than you want. Not all seeds
germinate (sprout).

Watch out for pests and diseases. With the arrival of spring comes some unwanted garden guests. Insects such as aphids, thrips, scales and whiteflies can cause real damage to newly transplanted plants. Insecticidal soaps or sprays usually work, but make sure you know which bugs are bad and which are good before treating. Plant diseases such as powdery mildew typically occur in the spring, so be sure to have fungicide on hand or use an organic alternative, such as milk in a spray bottle.

Complete garden cleaning. To avoid having to start gardening in April and having to catch up, make sure your outdoor space is clean and ready by then. Rake up leaves and add them to your compost pile, collect and dispose of trash, clean pots, discard old potting soil, and remove dead plant material. Clean, oil, and sharpen your tools and make sure your irrigation system is efficient and free of breaks or leaks.