You know that March has arrived, ‘when the sun shines hot, and the wind blows cold: when it is Summer in the light and Winter in the shade’! With Spring around the corner here is a March landscaping checklist:
March Tips:
*If a heavy snowfall occurs this month, use a broom to lift branches and gently shake off the snow. Don’t press down on the branches because this pressure plus the weight of the snow could cause them to break.
* Rake leaves and remove old fruit from fruit and deciduous trees.
* Cut back perennials and clean up flowerbeds, do these tasks this month before new spring growth appears. If you wait too long to begin cleaning up tasks you are likely to damage delicate new growth.
*Check evergreens for browning and deciduous trees for buds that have died, and deep water.
*Water your lawn if you see evidence of spider mites; thinning grass, soil exposed, excessive yellowing or browning of grass blades
*Winter months are a great time to prune many trees and shrubs. Dormant pruning is beneficial because a tree’s branch structure is readily visible and there are fewer disturbances to gardens. It is advantageous to thin shrubs during the winter to encourage healthy spring growth.
Countdown to Growing Season
Right about mid-March is when we can plant those cool season veggies. You can start planting these now!
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Sugar snap peas or other peas that mature early
- Early season lettuce like Bibb lettuce
Once these veggies are harvested in about mid-May, the garden can be re-planted with warm season crops–like broccoli, cauliflower, small cabbage and peas. When that crop is harvested around mid-July, that garden plot can again be planted with a repeat of the cool-season varieties. At that time, you can also add
green onions and early maturing snap beans. These plants should mature and be ready to harvest before the early fall frost.
Right Tree Right Place
As the spring planting season approaches it is interesting to note that trees properly placed around residences and buildings can save up to 30% on heating and cooling costs.
Summer Cooling
“West is Best”, planting trees on the west side of your home will provide the greatest summer cooling benefits. Second best place is the east side.
Winter Warming
Evergreen trees should be planted on the north and northwest sides of your home to block cold winter winds. Avoid planting on the south side, which can block the winter warming sun late in the day.
* Consider their economic value. Trees are not only the most expensive investment among landscape plants, but they appreciate over time as they grow. Individual trees can be worth thousands of dollars as they mature.