Welcome March

Dear March-Come in-

How glad I am-

I hoped for you before-

Put down your Hat-

You must have walked-

How out of-

Breath you are-

Emily Dickinson

Ahh!….March….That mercurial, changeable month!

Such an in-between month…maybe today it will be winter…maybe today it will be Spring. We wait each day to see what March will be!

But…there are changes with this month of anticipation. The days are getting longer, the soil is warming and there are glimpses of spring here and there if you look.

This is the month to help your garden get off to a good start, to prepare for planting and for a year of garden success.

March and April are the Meteorological months of Spring. True March does not begin until March 20.

Here are some early Spring chores that you can get started on now, weather permitting-

• As the weather warms, you can begin raking off the accumulated leaves from the yard and beds and removing any fallen or broken branches.
• Cut back last years growth and dead foliage as you see new growth beginning. This is the time I like to begin adding compost around the plants, both for nutrients and weed suppression.
• Many perennials can be dug and divided now, before the new growth begins.
• If you have a compost pile, it can be turned. Turning it will help it to heat up sooner.
• Don’t be too anxious to lay new mulch over your beds-wait until the soil warms up some. It will allow the late emerging perennials to come up easier and the soil to warm for the spring planting.
• The garden paths and borders can be worked on. Weed and mulch the garden pathways and re-set tumbled border stones.
• Early pruning can be done before new growth begins.
• Do a walk through of the garden, making note of what is needing done for this year-any structures needing repair, or new item needing built.
• Soil testing can be done.
• You can begin gathering mulches, fertilizers, compost, straw, etc.
• Planters can be cleaned up and prepared for planting.

Anything little that can be done now will make the garden chores easier later on.

Happy Gardening!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9