March flowers are purple & blue lungwort (Pulmonaria), primroses and daffodils.
Garden Chores for March
A March display at Gardenworks, Vancouver.
Index
A planter with cream coloured hellebores and white frilled purple primroses.
Sowing Seeds Indoors - Cool Crops
Sowing Seeds Outside - After Seeds Germinate
Growing Tomatoes from Seed - Hardening Off Plants
March Lawn Care - Torn Up Lawns - The First Mow & Feed
Sad Plants & Unhappy Gardens - TLC for Roses - Pruning Hydrangeas
In the Vegetable Garden - Container Grown Veggies Composting Now
Dahlias, Tuberous Begonias & Summer Bulbs
Overwintered Geraniums Aphids/Greenflies
Making New Beds - Cover Crops & Green Manure
Protecting Veggies - Lime or Not to Lime
Potatoes, Rhubarb & Raspberries
March Pruning - Make More Plants
March Garden Stars - March Garden Chores
Plant of the Month - Glory of the Snow
Ornamental Tropical Shrubs - A book for the tropical gardener.
Sowing Seeds Outside - After Seeds Germinate
Growing Tomatoes from Seed - Hardening Off Plants
March Lawn Care - Torn Up Lawns - The First Mow & Feed
Sad Plants & Unhappy Gardens - TLC for Roses - Pruning Hydrangeas
In the Vegetable Garden - Container Grown Veggies Composting Now
Dahlias, Tuberous Begonias & Summer Bulbs
Overwintered Geraniums Aphids/Greenflies
Making New Beds - Cover Crops & Green Manure
Protecting Veggies - Lime or Not to Lime
Potatoes, Rhubarb & Raspberries
March Pruning - Make More Plants
March Garden Stars - March Garden Chores
Plant of the Month - Glory of the Snow
Ornamental Tropical Shrubs - A book for the tropical gardener.
Primroses are so very difficult to resist.
Fellow Gardeners..
Daffodils are happy to see you too.
Hello Fellow Gardeners,
March is the month to prepare the garden for the upcoming growing season. Timing is an important element of gardening, but it can be tricky with spring’s unpredictable weather. It not only changes from day to day, but from hour to hour. Despite feeling a tad overwhelmed with all of March’s garden chores, it’s also an exciting time. The seeds on my kitchen counter have germinated – well most of them anyway. I get the biggest kick out of watching my wee little babies grow despite them hogging valuable counter space. Seedlings aside, the garden awaits. Primroses, magnolias, camellias, flowering cherries and currants are doing their thing out there. As with most spring gardens, it is a joy to visit them as there are so many beautiful and colourful flowers to admire. I like to believe my daffodils bow and nod their bright yellow trumpeted blossoms when the see me. I’m glad to see them too as they are my favourite of all the spring bulbs. Here’s to a great gardening month. May the weather be kind to us all and may your spring blossoms be plentiful. Cheers, Amanda 
A river of golden March daffodils at Queen Elizabeth Park. Click on the pic.
Garden Videos
Click on the pic to visit my YouTube garden channel.
Garden Club EventsPost your plant sales, garden tours & events and for more information on the events, click Garden Club Events & on the green text below.
White Rock Garden Club Plant Sale
Saturday May 9th, 2026 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Ocean Park Community Hall, 1577-128th St., Surrey Features perennials, succulents, grasses, veggies, herbs, shrubs, books, garden décor, baked goods, hanging baskets & cut flowers. Price ranging from $2 to $8. Cash only. 
NWHS Plant Sale
Saturday, May 9, 2026 10:00 am to 2:pm St. Thomas More Collegiate 7450-12th Ave, Burnaby Members donate a wonderful variety of shady and sunny perennials and vegetable seedlings that are available at below Garden Outlet prices. Cash only. 
Pretty pansies.
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SUBSCRIBE.
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March Garden Stars
Evergreen clematis, Clematis 'Armandii', evergreen vine, 25', fragrant, sun/part sun, Zones 7 to 9. Click on the pick for more.
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Dog-tooth violet, fawn lilies, Erythronium, perennial corm, part shade, 6 to 12”, Zones 4 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Flowering currant, Ribes sanguineum, 5 to 8' x 3 to 5', full sun, part shade. Zones 5 to 8. Click on the pic for more.
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False rock cress, Aubrieta deltoidea, evergreen herbaceous perennial, up to 6", spreading, full sun, part shade, Zones 4 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
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Squill, Scilla mischtschenkoana, spring bulb, flowers Feb, March, summer dormancy, 6 inches, sun/part shade. Zones 4 to 8.
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Winter heath, Erica carnea, 1' x 2', Dec-April, sun, light shade, broadleaf evergreen. Zones 5 to 8. Click on the pic for more.
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Magnolia soulangeana, saucer magnolia, deciduous tree, 20’-25 ’x 20’-25’, fragrant, sun/part shade. Zones 5 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Hardy cyclamen, Cyclamen repandum, herbaceous perennial, 4 to 6”, partial shade. Zones 7 to 9.
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Beautiful-face rhododendron, R. calophytum var calophytum, broadleaf evergreen tree/shrub, March – April flowers, 39' x 26', part sun to shade. Zones 6 to 9.
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Pasque flower, Pulsatilla vulgaris, herbaceous perennial, sun, part shade, 6-12” x 8 -12”. Zones 2 to 9.
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Grecian windflower, Anemone blanda, spring flowering tuberous rooted perennial, up to 6", sun, part shade. Zones 4 to 8.
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'Magic Marlot' skimmia, S,
japonica 'Magic Marlot', broadleaf evergreen shrub, 18-24”, shade, part shade. Zones 6 to 9.
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Saucer magnolia, M. soulangeana, deciduous tree, 20’-25 ’x 20’-25’, fragrant, sun/part shade. Zones 5 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Fumewort, Corydalis lutea, herbaceous perennial, 12’-18" tall and wide, part shade to shade, summer dormancy. Zones 4 to 8.
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Flowering quince, Chaenomeles japonica, deciduous shrub, 2-3', sun, part shade, thorns. Zones 5 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
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Forsythia, Forsythia x intermedia, deciduous shrub, sun, part shade, 6’-10’ x 8’-12’. Zones 5 to 8.
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Common lungwort, Pulmonaria officinalis, herbaceous perennial, shade to part shade, moist soil. Zones 3 to 8
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Star magnolia, Magnolia stellata, deciduous tree, fragrant, 15-20' x 10-15', sun to part shade. Zone 4 to 8. Click on the pic for more.
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Daybreak/yoshino cherry, Prunus yedoensis 'Akebono', deciduous tree, 25’-35’ tall & wide, fragrant flowers, sun. Zones 5 to 8.
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Lily-of-the-valley shrub, Pieris japonica, broadleaf evergreen, sun, part shade, 9–12’ x 6–8’. Zones 5 to 8. Click on the pic for more.
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Spiraea x vanhouttei, bridal wreath spirea, deciduous shrub, 5’–8’ x 7’- 10’, sun. Zones 3 to 8.
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March Garden Chores
March flowers are a welcome sight.
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Pink hellebores steal the show.
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Garden Inspections
Things are happening out there in the garden. Spring bulbs are popping up, whilst slugs are devouring everything except for the weeds. Checking out what needs to be done is critical this time of year as it’s time to get a wiggle on.
Leave organic garden debris on the ground.
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An early bee has overwintered in the garden.
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Ladybugs overwinter in leaf litter.
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Keeping it Dirty! Despite the urge to scrape garden beds free of all debris, it’s the worst thing to do - honest. Leaf litter and other organic detritus increases beneficial insects by a whopping 90%, which improves soil health dramatically. It is a low maintenance solution that reduces the need to fertilize and to water.
Sow Seeds
Read seed packets for planting & care info.
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Start petunias 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
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Kale sown indoors gets a head start.
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Since different seeds need different methods to germinate, read seed packets instructions before sowing. When and how to sow specific seeds depends on their hardiness, how long they take to germinate and to mature. For example, it takes 6 to 8 for tomatoes to plant outside after the danger of frost has passed, however, radishes only take 4 weeks from sowing to harvest, and they don’t mind the cold.
Sow Seeds Indoors
Spindly seedlings need more light.
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Seedlings under a grow light kit.
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Heated propagation mats are optional.
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Avoid peat pellets as seeds & seedlings are prone to rotting.
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It’s relatively easy to germinate seeds indoors but to prevent weak spindly specimens you’ll need additional lighting. The light should be adjustable so you can raise it as the seedlings grow. Adequate watering is key of course. Too little and plants dry up and die, too much and they wither and die. Feel the soil with your finger to know when to water. Use warm water to prevent Damping Off Disease. For more details, tips & techniques click on Sowing Seeds Indoors. For a video on mixing soil for seeds click on Soil for Seeds.
Cool Crops
Sow seeds when the soil warms.
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Wait for puddles to dry.
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Kale gets a head start.
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Sow radish seeds outside.
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A crop of indoor grown lettuce.
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Sow lettuce, spinach, peas and other cool season crops inside to protect them from inclement weather, cutworms, slugs, snails and other insects. Alternately, sow them outdoors when the soil temperature is 10°C (50°F) with no nighttime frost and when the garden is not a mud pit.
After Seeds Germinate
Spray chamomile tea on seedlings.
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Thin out crowded seedlings.
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These peppers need to be repotted.
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Individual peppers seedlings, one per cell.
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Prepare plants for the outside by hardening them off.
Thinning: It’s often necessary to thin seedlings once they have popped up. This means sacrificing a few so the remaining ones have the space to grow. Remove the weak and those too close together by snipping them off at the soil line. It is not a pleasant experience, but it needs to be done.
Potting-On: Once the remaining seedlings have grown at least 3 sets of leaves and are big enough to handle, repot them into cell packs or a 2 inch pot. Water with warm water. Turn off the grow lights for a couple of days until they perk up, then replace them under the light. As the seedlings grow, repot into larger pots as needed. Don’t plant outside until they have been hardened off.
Potting-On: Once the remaining seedlings have grown at least 3 sets of leaves and are big enough to handle, repot them into cell packs or a 2 inch pot. Water with warm water. Turn off the grow lights for a couple of days until they perk up, then replace them under the light. As the seedlings grow, repot into larger pots as needed. Don’t plant outside until they have been hardened off.
Tomato Love
Homegrown deliciousness.
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Seedlings need to be thinned.
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Plant 1 seedling per pot.
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Time to pot on.
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Freshly transplanted.
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Ready to plant outside.
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There’s nothing more rewarding and tastier than growing your own tomatoes from seeds, however there are a few things you should know. Sow tomato seeds indoors under grow lights as soon as possible. A seedling heating mat is optional. For more on growing tomatoes click on the following links. Tomato Tips - Tomato Seeds to Plants - Tomato Troubles - Taming Tomatoes -Speeding up Tomato Harvest - Saving Tomato Seeds.
For videos click on Potting Tomato Seedlings into a Cell Pack and Transplanting Potted Tomato Seedlings.
For videos click on Potting Tomato Seedlings into a Cell Pack and Transplanting Potted Tomato Seedlings.
Growing Food in Pots
Container grown broccoli.
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A Little Prince dwarf eggplant.
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A planter with basil, parsley, peppers & dangling cucumbers.
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Cool crops lettuce & kale.
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To grow some veggies and/or fruit you don’t need a garden; all you need is a plant pot and at least 4 hours, preferably 6 hours, of direct sunshine. Select a container with drainage holes and potting soil. Visit a nursery for seeds and to speed up the process consider starter plants. To learn more about growing in containers click on Growing In Containers and Choosing a Container.
March Lawn Care
A soil test is an effective tool.
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Use a lawn rake.
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Aerate the lawn.
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Reseed & renovate.
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Grass seed & fertilizer combo.
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Correct maintenance is key to a healthy lawn.
Once the lawn is no longer soggy or frosty, use a leaf rake to remove debris and to lift flattened grass blades. Rent an aerator to pull out soil plugs to allow air and water to reach the grass roots. Leave the plugs to decompose, and topdress with an inch of fine compost on top of the lawn. Follow up with premium grass seed, preferably one that includes a starter fertilizer. To fix bare patches, use a rake to scuff up the soil, add compost, then grass seed, firm them into the soil then water gently.
For new lawns, purchase sod that has not been grown on netting. It is inferior sod, and the netting makes it difficult to aerate, rake and to remove the grass when needed. For more click on Lawn Reno, Seed & Sod.
For new lawns, purchase sod that has not been grown on netting. It is inferior sod, and the netting makes it difficult to aerate, rake and to remove the grass when needed. For more click on Lawn Reno, Seed & Sod.
Mowing & Fertilizing
It's too early for high nitrogen fertilizers.
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Organic lawn fertilizers are available.
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Select a fertilizer with trace elements & micronutrients.
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Phosphorus fertilizers promote strong roots.
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Mow grass when it is 3 inches long.
The first mow of the Season: Before mowing the lawn, sharpen the blade and service the mower. Mow the grass when it has grown to 3 inches, and when it's dry. Don't cut too much off at once; no more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blades at a time. Refrain from cutting it too short, less than 2 inches for optimal growth. More on Spring Lawn Care.
Feeding the lawn: A robust lawn is the result of an abundance of healthy roots. To stimulate root development, apply a fertilizer with more phosphorus than nitrogen. These ‘starter’ fertilizers have a high middle number: 5-10-3. Wait until May to apply a high nitrogen (10-5-3) organic or slow released lawn food. Here's more on Fertilizers & Ratios - Organic Plant Food - Feeding Plants 101- Lawn Care - Lawn Maintenance Schedule
Feeding the lawn: A robust lawn is the result of an abundance of healthy roots. To stimulate root development, apply a fertilizer with more phosphorus than nitrogen. These ‘starter’ fertilizers have a high middle number: 5-10-3. Wait until May to apply a high nitrogen (10-5-3) organic or slow released lawn food. Here's more on Fertilizers & Ratios - Organic Plant Food - Feeding Plants 101- Lawn Care - Lawn Maintenance Schedule
Torn Up Lawns
Chafer grubs eat lawn roots.
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A crow hunts for grubs.
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Grubs love short grass.
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Water the lawn in summer.
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Mossy lawns are prone to grubs.
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The reason why animals dig up lawns is not to annoy you, it’s because they are feeding on these apparently tasty grubs. In late June to early July, European chafer beetles, Amphimallon majalis, lay their eggs in the ground. The eggs hatch in July into large white grubs that devour the grass roots. Since the lawn is already infested with the grubs, allow the crows, raccoons and other animals to feed on the grubs. It is a non- toxic way to get rid of them. Once they have had their fill, rake off the debris then add an inch or two of commercial bagged garden soil then add grass seed or sod.
To prevent a grub infestation, change your lawn maintenance routine. First raise your mower to 2 ½ to 3 inches (6 to 8 cm). The longer grass blades make it impossible for the adult beetles to lay their eggs, and it encourages deep, extensive roots for a healthier more resilient lawn. So does watering in the summer. Without water, the grass becomes weak, which attracts the grubs. Here’s more on Lawn Grubs.
Mossy lawns: They are extremely vulnerable to lawn grubs and are quickly decimated and ripped apart my hungry animals. To rid your lawn of moss, apply moss killer according to the directions. For more click on Moss in Lawns.
To prevent a grub infestation, change your lawn maintenance routine. First raise your mower to 2 ½ to 3 inches (6 to 8 cm). The longer grass blades make it impossible for the adult beetles to lay their eggs, and it encourages deep, extensive roots for a healthier more resilient lawn. So does watering in the summer. Without water, the grass becomes weak, which attracts the grubs. Here’s more on Lawn Grubs.
Mossy lawns: They are extremely vulnerable to lawn grubs and are quickly decimated and ripped apart my hungry animals. To rid your lawn of moss, apply moss killer according to the directions. For more click on Moss in Lawns.
Sad Plants & Unhappy Gardens
Leaves are an excellent source of nutrients and organic matter.
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Wood chip mulch protects soil & plants.
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Bagged compost is readily available.
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When plants are weak pathetic creatures despite fussing over them and plying them with fertilizer, it's not you, it's the ground they are growing in. Organically rich soil is the foundation of a healthy garden. Conversely, synthetic fertilizers deplete the soil and everything in it. For a healthy and low maintenance garden, add a few inches of compost, fall leaves and other organic soil amendments. Follow up by placing a three inch layer of an organic mulch on top of the soil. Purchase bulk or bagged compost, and use your own. For more information go to Organic Plant Food and Soil Building.
Making Compost
It's time to use your compost.
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Sieve the compost before using.
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Add a green layer of kitchen scraps.
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Always finish with a brown layer.
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It’s time to retrieve existing aged, mature compost from the pile or bin and spread on garden beds. Use a sieve to remove any of the undecomposed bits and place them back in the bottom of the bin. Add a couple of inches of compost to inoculate and seed the next batch of compost.
To activate existing compost give it a good turn with a garden fork or shovel. Add water if it is dry as nothing happens without it. For the green layer, add a kitchen scraps and non-weedy or seedy plants. Follow up with 4 to 6 inches of brown, carbon layer such as torn newspaper or fall foliage. For more click on Composting.
To activate existing compost give it a good turn with a garden fork or shovel. Add water if it is dry as nothing happens without it. For the green layer, add a kitchen scraps and non-weedy or seedy plants. Follow up with 4 to 6 inches of brown, carbon layer such as torn newspaper or fall foliage. For more click on Composting.
Cover Crops & Green Manure
Winter peas provide nitrogen.
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Crimson clover has many benefits.
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Chopped up crimson clover.
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Cover crops become green manure.
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Cut back fall rye, crimson clover and other cover crops that were sown last fall. Use a line trimmer, scythe or shears to chop them up to pieces to create green manure. When mixed into the soil, it provides nutrients and helps build the soil. Wait a couple of weeks for it to decompose before planting. To learn more, click on Cover Crops.
Make New Beds
This bed was too small.
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The bed is enlarged without digging up the lawn.
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Top with a thick layer of mulch.
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The finished garden.
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Convert lawns to veggie gardens.
There’s no need to dig up the lawn to make a new bed or to enlarge an old one with sheet mulching. This method is also referred to as lasagna gardening because of the numerous layers of soil, paper and mulch. Newspapers and/or cardboard is used to smother the lawn so there's no need to rip up the grass. Soil is then placed over top followed by a layer of mulch. For more information click on Lasagna Gardening.
In The Garden
It's a good time to transplant.
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Cut back ornamental grasses.
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Stake peonies while you can.
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Delphiniums often need help.
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It's Time to Transplant: It's best to divide and transplant perennials, shrubs, trees and vines before they get carried away and put on too much growth.
Stake: Although plants don't need staking now, they will sooner than you think. Stick stakes in the ground besides delphinium, hollyhocks and other tall plants. Place cages or other supports around peonies, asters, garden phlox and other plants that tend to flop over.
Stake: Although plants don't need staking now, they will sooner than you think. Stick stakes in the ground besides delphinium, hollyhocks and other tall plants. Place cages or other supports around peonies, asters, garden phlox and other plants that tend to flop over.
In The Veggie Garden
Rake off all debris in veggie beds.
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Plant broccoli, kale & other cool season crops.
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Companion planting combines different crops.
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Rotate veggies crops from last year's beds.
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Clean up the veggie garden to prevent the spread of insects & diseases. Remove all plant debris but keep kale and other veggies that are still looking good. After yanking out any weeds, mix in a couple of inches of compost and rake level. Make a map of the veggie patch and don’t plant the same crops in the same place as last year. Also mix different crops together as companion planting has many benefits. For more click select Spring Veggie Gardening - Growing Food - Crop Rotation, Succession & Companion Planting
Cut off rhubarb flowers.
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Keep last year's kale if it's still looking good.
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Prune out raspberry canes that have born fruit.
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Protecting Veggies
A cloche protects plants.
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A floating row cover.
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Inside a tunnel cloche.
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Spunbonded polyester.
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Prevent leaf minor.
Cloches & floating row covers are an organic solution to protect veggies from insects such as carrot rust fly and leaf minor. Although clear plastic is often used, it is better to use spunbonded polyester as it allows air, light and water to penetrate. Make your own or purchase them at dollar stores, home hardware, garden stores and online. Here’s more on cloches and Preventing & Controlling Insects.
Cutworm Prevention: These soil-dwelling, nocturnal caterpillars kill seedlings by chewing through stems at or just below the soil surface. When planting seedlings, wrap their wee stems with a paper collar. It’s a bit fiddly but it works. Protect ones that are already in the ground with toothpicks stuck in the soil beside their stems. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the soil around the seedling. Reapply after rain or watering.
Cutworm Prevention: These soil-dwelling, nocturnal caterpillars kill seedlings by chewing through stems at or just below the soil surface. When planting seedlings, wrap their wee stems with a paper collar. It’s a bit fiddly but it works. Protect ones that are already in the ground with toothpicks stuck in the soil beside their stems. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the soil around the seedling. Reapply after rain or watering.
Cutworms are C-shaped caterpillars.
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Toothpicks & diatomaceous earth protects a seedling.
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Protect seedlings with a collar.
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To Lime or Not to Lime
Dolopril lime has many benefits.
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Lime the soil where cabbages are to grow.
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Do not add lime where potatoes are to grow.
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Chit potatoes to get a head start.
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Brassicas: To prevent clubroot, a root deforming disease on cauliflowers, cabbages, broccoli and other brassicas, lime the soil with dolomite lime. Alternately, do not lime the soil where potatoes are planted as it promotes potato scab.
Potatoes: Seed potatoes are preferable to grocery store spuds as they are certified disease free. To stimulate sprouting, place potatoes upright in muffin tins or egg cartons in a warm, bright location before planting. For more on growing spuds, click on Growing Potatoes.
Potatoes: Seed potatoes are preferable to grocery store spuds as they are certified disease free. To stimulate sprouting, place potatoes upright in muffin tins or egg cartons in a warm, bright location before planting. For more on growing spuds, click on Growing Potatoes.
What to Plant & How
This tree was planted too deeply.
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Tree beds protect tree trunks.
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Cut tightly bound roots.
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Avoid ball & burlap plants.
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Tsk, tsk, unwrap these roots!
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Properly planted trees show off their trunk flares.
Cool wet weather are the perfect conditions for planting trees, shrubs, fruit trees, perennials and vines. It gives them time to become well established by the time summer’s hot and dry weather arrives. When purchasing new plants keep in mind their mature height, width and if they like sun or shade. Save their labels for future reference. Plant trees so their trunk flare is above the ground and plant shrubs, so their crowns are flush with the soil. To learn more about planting methods click on Planting Know How.
March Pruning
Prune off all dead branches.
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Cut off broken ones.
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Remove watersprouts.
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Cut off diseased portions.
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Prune Type 3 (C) clematis.
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The same type of tree but the one on the left was sadly topped.
The object of pruning is not to control the size of plants, but to encourage healthy growth and to promote good ‘bones’. Maintain plants regularly to remove dead, diseased, weak, broken branches, suckers and watersprouts. It's tricky to prune plants back this month as many plants have already grown their spring foliage. Cutting them back once they have produced foliage sets them back, so refrain from doing so.
Now is not the time to prune lilacs and other spring flowering plants. Wait until after they finish flowering. However, it's time to prune rose of sharon, Japanese spirea, shrubby cinquefoil and other summer & fall flowering plants.
Clematis: Prune clematis that flower on the current's season's growth, which is referred to as Type 3, & Type C. Refrain from cutting clematis back if you are unsure of what type they are. Instead wait for them to flower and make note of when they do flower if the do so on new or old wood. For more click on Pruning Clematis.
Here's more: Pruning Basics 101 - Pruning Tools.
For personal instruction in your garden within Metro Vancouver, click on Prune Your Own Garden Registration.
Now is not the time to prune lilacs and other spring flowering plants. Wait until after they finish flowering. However, it's time to prune rose of sharon, Japanese spirea, shrubby cinquefoil and other summer & fall flowering plants.
Clematis: Prune clematis that flower on the current's season's growth, which is referred to as Type 3, & Type C. Refrain from cutting clematis back if you are unsure of what type they are. Instead wait for them to flower and make note of when they do flower if the do so on new or old wood. For more click on Pruning Clematis.
Here's more: Pruning Basics 101 - Pruning Tools.
For personal instruction in your garden within Metro Vancouver, click on Prune Your Own Garden Registration.
Hydrangea Pruning
Don't cut back mophead hydrangeas too far.
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Cut mopheads to two buds high up on the stem.
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Prune panicle hydrangeas back by half.
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Cut back smooth hydrangeas by 1/2 to 1/3rd.
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Pruning Hydrangeas: There are numerous types of hydrangeas, and all are pruned differently – with the exception of the removal of all weak, spindly, old and dead stems. Do that any time of year. Cut back Refrain from cutting back mophead hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) to far as they have already formed this year’s flowers on last year’s stems. If you cut them back beyond the first two buds, they will fail to flower. Just deadhead above the first set of healthy buds. Panicle (H. paniculata) and smooth-leaf hydrangeas (H. arborescens) form flowers on new wood so it is safe to cut them back by a 1/3rd to a 1/2.
Dahlias, Tuberous Begonias & Summer Bulbs
Pot up dahlias for early blossoms.
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Dahlias potted up in March eady to plant by May.
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Revive overwintered tuberous begonias.
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Give newly purchased and overwintered stored summer bulbs a head start by potting up dahlias, tuberous begonias, gladiolus, cannas, callas and caladiums now. Soak any dried ones overnight to spur on growth. Potting them up now gives them a head start so they will flower earlier. Their more mature growth is also less susceptible to slugs and snails. Plant summer bulbs pots with drainage holes with potting soil and place in a frost free and bright area. Use grow lights and a heater if needed.
Overwintered Geraniums
A geranium after being under lights for 12 hours all winter.
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After being cleaned-up and cut back.
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Make more plants with the cut stems. Click on pic to find out how.
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Cut back the roots to use the same container.
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The recovered geranium.
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Get geraniums (Pelargonium) raring to grow by cleaning them up, cutting them back and repotting into larger containers. Optionally, cut ¼ of the roots off with a sharp knife and replant in the same pot. For more click on Geraniums & Tropical Plants.
Houseplants & Indoor Tropical Plants
Houseplants need TLC.
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Loosen or cut potbound roots.
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Fertilize houseplants.
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Starter fertilizer stimulates roots.
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Remove dead and dying foliage from plants and soil surfaces. Give dusty and buggy plants a wash. Use a sponge or spray plants down with dish liquid and warm water. Repot into a larger pot if roots have filled their container. Alternately, keep them in the same pot with root pruning. Use a knife to cleanly cut an inch or so off the roots. Mix in a slow release starter fertilizer, 5-15-5 into fresh potting soil. Water after planting then follow up with a liquid starter fertilizer. For plants that don't need bigger pots, mix in a granular slow release fertilizer to the soil with a fork. For hungry, neglected plants, also fertilize with a liquid fertilizer as it is quickly absorbed. Here's more info: Houseplant Winter Care
Aphids/Greenflies & Black Sooty Mould
Look for ladybugs where there's aphids.
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A ladybug larvae on the left is feasting on aphids.
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Black sooty mould.
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A stocking protects an artichoke from aphids.
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Aphids are pear shaped teeny flies that congregate on buds and young foliage. They secrete a sweet substance as they feed called honeydew, which attracts Black Sooty Mould. Since new growth is affected, avoid applying nitrogen as it stimulates new leaves & buds. Clean off all the mould and the aphids by washing them thoroughly away with dish liquid, a tablespoon of vegetable oil and warm water. Remove any ladybugs that were chowing down on the aphids before soaping or rinsing. To save the ladybugs, just squish the aphids with a gloved hand and/or rinse them off.
TLC for Roses
Give roses some love.
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Prune roses when forsythias flower.
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Cut off dead rose canes.
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Before
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After
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As temperatures warm, remove mulch or mounded soil used for winter protection. Discard all debris from the plant and soil then mix in a few inches of compost to the surrounding soil. Prune roses in mid-March when forsythia’s yellow blossoms appear. For more click on Pruning Roses. Place 3 inches of wood chips around the plant on top of the soil for an organic mulch. Here’s more on roses: Easy Roses - Types of Roses - Rose Insects & Diseases - Climbing Roses - Portland's Rose Test Garden
Weeds Be Gone!
Use the right tool for the job.
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Don't dig up horsetails.
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Pull up horsetails.
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Use a cultivator to weed.
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Pull up bindweed asap.
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I hope I got all the buttercup runners.
There are many ways to get rid of weeds from yanking them out by hand to spraying them with herbicides. Numerous techniques are often needed to get the job done and so is patience. Organic herbicides are effective and are easily available. Protect nearby plants from spray drift with cardboard and follow the instructions. It’s true that hand weeding can be backbreaking, however it provides instant gratification and there’s no chemicals involved.
For difficult to control weeds, it’s best not to dig them up as you’ll spread them even more. Instead, just pull them out of the ground and keep on doing so until they give up. Hang in there. These bad boys include horsetails (Equisetum arvense), bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria), yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon subsp. montanum ‘Florentinum’). For more click on Horsetail, the Weed.
For difficult to control weeds, it’s best not to dig them up as you’ll spread them even more. Instead, just pull them out of the ground and keep on doing so until they give up. Hang in there. These bad boys include horsetails (Equisetum arvense), bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria), yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon subsp. montanum ‘Florentinum’). For more click on Horsetail, the Weed.
Take Cuttings
A heel cutting from a Aztec Pearl mock orange (Choisya ternata).
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Cut stem cuttings just below a node.
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Successful rosemary cuttings.
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Make basal cuttings from roots.
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Instead of buying plants, clone them by taking cuttings. Take softwood cutting from the new growth in the morning when they are still full of moisture. Make basal cuttings by slicing off some of the roots. To learn more about how to take cuttings click here.
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