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Cooperative Extension Service |
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Agricultural
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Arbor Day
Dale Bumpers College
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Gardening CalendarWe were blessed by a mild growing season last year and more rainfall than normal, especially late in the season. Many winter and spring flowering plants set an enormous amount of flower buds for this season, and we have already enjoyed great floral displays from last fall and early winters Encore Azaleas and Camellia sasanqua, into this spring's azaleas, forsythia and Camellia japonica. Unless winter weather took a shot at some of your plants, it should be a glorious spring. March weather is often transitional, with everything from rain to snow, warm conditions to late frosts. Keep your eye on the forecast and have extra protection at hand, should it be called for. Unfortunately, fruit trees and large shrubs are often hard to protect, but we can add a little protection easily to low growing shrubs, groundcovers or strawberries. Avoid using plastic, since it tends to generate more heat underneath and can result in too much of a temperature fluctuation. Vegetables If the ground is workable, March is a fantastic month to plant the vegetable garden. All of the cool season crops can be planted now. From onions and potatoes to the greens, broccoli, cabbage and spinach, there are many plants and seeds to plant. Early gardens are easy to maintain, since few pest problems have gotten a foothold. Mulch the plants to prevent weeds, water as needed and you will be harvesting in no time—especially if you grow lettuce and radishes—two crops with a quick turn-about process. While it is too early to plant tomatoes outside, if you have specific varieties that you want to grow, now is the time to start the seeds indoors. Remember light is a crucial factor for success. You must have artificial light sources, unless you have a greenhouse. Fresh herbs are also a great addition to a vegetable garden or a flower garden (just use caution with pesticides). Rosemary is still blooming, cilantro and parsley thrive in these cooler days and chives are beginning to show signs of flowers. Harvest as needed. Annuals Winter bedding plants were hit and miss this winter, especially if you planted late in the season. We got colder earlier than we have in recent years, and roots may not have been as well established as we would have wanted before the first killing frost. If your plants have stopped blooming, consider giving them a shot in the arm—fertilize and deadhead. They should rebound and begin to bloom again. Keep in mind that you should be able to get at least another month or two of blooms from them. By then it will be time to plant summer annuals. If your plants did not survive and you need some quick color now, consider some cool loving annuals including: geraniums, stock, Osteospermum, diascia, callibrachoa, and English primroses. While some of these plants take the summer heat as well, many play out with hot weather, but can be good transitional plants. Bulbs The racks of summer bulbs are appearing in our garden centers now. From caladiums to elephant ears to cannas and gladiolus, it is too early to plant them. Wait for the soil temperatures to warm up and for all chances of frost to pass before planting. Caladiums in particular like really warm soil before they will begin to grow, so don't be impatient. Spring flowering bulbs are blooming nicely now. From early bulbs that may already have done their thing to some with no color showing, spring bulbs can give you loads of color from mid winter to late spring. Remember that all bulbs need at least six weeks of green growth following their bloom period to set their flowers for next spring. Fertilize when you see the flower buds emerging and/or immediately following bloom. Use a complete fertilizer such as 13-13-13. Do not braid or twist the foliage as this can impede their growth and reduce the size of the bulbs. Lawns Many lawns are blooming nicely right now with a plethora of winter weeds. How weed free you want your lawn is a personal preference, but if you allow your weeds to freely bloom and set seeds, each year your weed population will grow. Mowing the winter weeds now to prevent seed set is helpful, but you are getting a bit late to think about post-emergent sprays. This is the month to apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent summer annual weeds, but these products do nothing to help with the weeds that are already growing. Don't fertilize until the lawn is totally green. Houseplants & Tropical's By now, the days are getting longer and our plants have gotten used to the drier conditions indoors. You should begin to see new growth appearing on many of these plants. If you overwintered the tropical flowering plants indoors, go ahead and cut them back now, then start fertilizing. I would take them back at least by one third. They bloom on new growth so you want as much new growth potential as possible. Repot them when you move them outdoors. For the plants you stored under your house or in the garage, hold off on pruning until you move them back outdoors. Trees & Shrubs If you think you have winter damage on your shrubs, don't be too quick to prune. Allow the plants to begin growth this spring before pruning. If you have spring blooming plants, let them finish flowering before you prune. Crape myrtles, althea and buddleia, along with other summer flowering plants can still be pruned now. These plants bloom on the new growth, so pruning is done before they begin to grow.
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University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture |
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