March

Water lawns, gardens, trees and shrubs once to twice a week depending on temperatures and snow/rainfall.
Water winter annuals in containers every week or two depending on pot size.
Remember: New plantings will require more water the first year.

Start applying Sure Green on trees, shrubs and lawns.
Fertilize houseplants with a good water-soluble fertilizer. Be sure not to over-fertilize or over-water houseplants in winter months.
Start improving your garden soil by mixing in some organic material such as compost or a top dressing of manure.
Start fertilizing Roses, Iris, Crape Myrtle, Lilacs and Peonies and all other flowering with an application of Super Phosphate or Triple Super Phosphate.

Plant bare root roses, trees and shrubs.
Prune roses in mid-March.
Plant trees, shrubs and perennials.
Plant flowering annuals and perennials.
Dethatch, aerate and water cool season lawns. Start mowing as soon as you start to see new growth.
Cut back ornamental grasses into a ball shape if you have not done so already.
Transplant any mislocated plants while dormant.
Prune deciduous trees and shrubs. The best time to prune is when plants have gone fully dormant. Prune summer-flowering shrubs such as Crepe Myrtle, Butterfly Bush and Rose of Sharon. Do not prune spring-flowering plants until after they bloom.
Prune berries and grapes in late March, except Heritage raspberries, which are pruned in fall.
Pruning Guidelines:
- No more than 1/3 of the plant
- Prune to shape
- Prune all dead or damaged branches
- Prune off branches that cross and rub
- Prune to thin the interior of the plant to increase air circulation

Clean your garden area by removing all debris to prevent unwanted over- wintering pests, but watch out for cocoons that may be harboring butterflies! Refresh with a layer of cypress, cedar or pecan mulch.
Be sure to remove fallen leaves from your lawn. Wet leaves can block sunlight and increase the chance of disease.
Use horticultural or dormant spray on deciduous trees and shrubs, especially fruit trees, to kill insects and help prevent disease. It’s important to spray early before buds start to swell.
Apply chelated iron or soil acidifier with iron to chlorosis-prone trees and shrubs, chitalpa, maples, aspens, willow, euonymus and photinia.
Apply Bonide Tree and Shrub to trees and shrubs for year-long protection from insects. Do not apply to edible plants.
Kill early weeds in landscape and garden with Killzall. Kill early weeds in lawns with Weed Beater.

Plant cool-season vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, swiss chard, kale and mustards in a cold frame or use frost cloth.
Improve soils in vegetable beds by adding BTE compost, home compost or manure.
Plant onion sets, strawberries, rhubarb and asparagus.
Continue planting seeds for the upcoming spring season!

Protect any tender plants from freezing with a frost cloth. Protect small plants with leaves or mulch.
Start a new compost bin.
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