March in the Garden
Check the plants under the eaves of the house and under tall trees to see if they need water. Plants growing under the eaves don't get the rainfall, and those under a tree have to fight for the tree for moisture--guess who wins?
Take the time to properly prepare the soil in your vegetable garden before you plant. Adding aged manure, compost, or peat moss will help lighten heavy clay soils and enrich sandy soils. Perennial vegetables (rhubarb, asparagus, etc.) can be planted now, as can peas. Other crops need to be set out later this month or even in April or May. March is a good time to plant fruit trees and berries also.
Start seeds for tomatoes, marigolds, lettuce, petunias, tomatoes, peppers, and any other warm-weather plants. Of course, you can just buy already started plants later.
Transplant any plants before they get too big. Don't forget to water them!
We hate to mention that four-letter word all gardeners hate, but March isn't too early to start the WEED fight. Getting rid of them while they are small is a lot easier than waiting until you need a machete to cut them down! If you don't mind using herbicides, now is the time to spray some broad-leaf control or other weed-killer. Be sure to protect any wanted plants when you spray.
Spring flowers are among the loveliest ( or is it that we just get so darn sick of winter?) Especially lovely are the rockery flowers. If you don't have a rock garden, you might want to start one. If you really aren't up to having rock hauled in, these plants look nice as edgings around your beds and borders, or as a ground cover under trees or on a problem slope.
This is also a good month to clean your garden shed. (Kidding--go read a good book instead and rest up for the summer yard work!)
For more detailed information on gardening and lawn care in your area, contact:
http://www.yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu or your county extension office
Iowa Master Gardener Program (Call us with your questions 10am to noon and 1-4:30pm, M-F--515-294-3108 or contact us via e-mail: hortline@iastate.edu)
Your local garden center
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