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  • Home
  • About, Services, Contact
  • Ask Amanda
  • Roses
    • Types of Roses
    • Easy Roses
    • Climbing Roses
    • Portland's Rose Test Garden
    • Rose Insects & Diseases
    • Pruning Roses
    • Rose Sawfly
    • Rose Bloom Balling
  • Pruning Basics 101
    • Pruning Tools
    • Winter Pruning
    • Pruning Grapes
    • Pruning Clematis
    • Prune Your Own Garden Registration
  • Lawn Basics
    • Lawn Reno, Seed & Sod
    • Lawn Maintenance Schedule
    • Spring Lawn Care
    • Moss in Lawns
    • Lawn Alternatives
    • Lawn Grub Control
  • Mulch & Mulching
    • Living Mulches - Groundcovers
  • Propagation
    • Growing Seeds Outdoors
    • Growing Seeds Indoors
    • Taking Cuttings
    • Seed & Plant Catalogues
  • How to Garden Topics
    • Fall Garden Chores
    • Planting Know-How
    • Soil Building
    • Watering Tips & Techniques
    • Drought Gardening
    • Sheet Mulching, Lasagna Gardening
    • Cover Crops
    • Composting
    • Compost Tea
    • Houseplant Winter Care
    • Hummingbirds in Winter
    • Winterize Your Garden
    • Ponds in Winter
  • Growing Food
    • Spring Veggie Gardening
    • Crop Rotation, Succession & Companion Planting
    • Harvesting
    • Growing Potatoes
    • Winter Veggie Gardening
    • Taming Tomatoes
    • Speeding up Tomato Harvest
    • Tomato Tips
    • Saving Tomato Seeds
    • Tomato Troubles
  • Plant Pests 1
    • Plant Pests Part 2 - Controlling Insects
    • Garden Inspections
    • Helping Pollinators
    • Dogwood Anthracnose
    • Viburnum Leaf Beetle
    • Dormant Oil/Lime Sulfur
    • Japanese Beetles
    • Peony Blotch/Measles
    • Slugs & Snails
    • Horsetail, the Weed
    • June Beetle
    • Powdery Mildew
    • Soil Solarization
    • Rhododendron Leaf Spot
    • Plant Rusts
    • Black Knot
  • Container Growing
    • Choosing a Container
  • Feeding Plants 101
    • Fertilizers & Ratios
    • Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities
    • Organic Plant Food
  • Plant of the Month
    • Spring Flowering Bulbs
    • Colourful Fall Plants
    • Abelia
    • American Sweetgum
    • Ash (Fraxinus) Trees
    • Astilbes
    • Aubretia, Rock Cress
    • Aucuba, Japanese Spotted Laurel
    • Autumn Crocus
    • Bear's Breeches
    • Beautyberry, Callicarpa
    • Black-eyed Susans
    • Bleeding Heart, Lamprocapnos spectabilis
    • Calla Lilies
    • Dahlias
    • Daylily
    • Delphiniums
    • Devil's Walking Stick, Aralia spinosa
    • Dwarf Alberta Spruce
    • Dwarf Burning Bush
    • Evergreen Clematis
    • Fall Asters
    • Flowering Currants
    • Flowering Quince
    • Fritillaria
    • Garden Peonies
    • Garden Phlox
    • Ginkgo biloba
    • Grape-hyacinths
    • Handkerchief or Dove Tree
    • Harry Lauder's Walking Stick
    • Heathers
    • Hellebores, Lenten roses
    • Himalayan Sweet Box
    • Jack-in-the-pulpit, Cobra Lily
    • Japanese Anemones
    • Japanese Forest Grass
    • Japanese Maples
    • Japanese Skimmia
    • Japanese Spurge
    • Laurustinus viburnum
    • Lavenders
    • Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub, Pieris japonica
    • Mediterranean Spurge
    • Mexican Mock Orange
    • Montana Clematis
    • Mountain Ash
    • Oriental Poppies
    • Oriental Lilies
    • Paperbark Maple
    • Pink Dawn Bodnant Viburnum
    • Poinsettias
    • Oregon Grape Holly
    • Ornamental Kale
    • Peruvian Lily, Alstroemeria
    • Phalaenopsis, Moth Orchids
    • Persian Silk Tree
    • Portuguese Laurel
    • Rose of Sharon
    • Sneezeweed, Helenium
    • Snowberry
    • Snowdrops
    • Star Magnolia
    • Strawberry Tree, Pacific Madrone
    • Stewartia
    • Torch Lily, Kniphofia uvaria
    • Tree Peonies
    • Tuberous Begonias
    • Virginia Creeper
    • Weigela
    • Winterhazel, Corylopsis
    • Winter Camellia, C. sasanqua
    • Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens
    • Witch Hazel
    • Wood Anemones
    • Yews
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The Garden Website.com

Amanda's Garden Consulting Company
This early flowering tree rhododendron (Rhododendron calophytum var. calophytum) is originally from Southern China's mountains but does quite well in Southern British Columbia. Photo Amanda Jarrett, at VanDusen Botanical Gardens.

The Garden Website for March

March Introduction - March Plant Combo - Amanda's Garden Blog -  March Garden Chores 
Getting the Garden Rolling - Plant Police - Planting Trees & Shrubs

Starting Seeds Indoors - Transplanting Seeds Sown Inside - Sow Seeds Outside - Seed Protection: Cloches 
Get a Hold on Weeds - Horsetails
What Not to Prune Now - What to Prune Now
Spring Lawn Care - March Garden Chores - New, Bigger Beds - Improving Soil 
March Flower Arrangement - Plant of the Month: Flowering Currant  - For the Tropical Gardener
Northwest flower & garden show,dwarf conifers,Northwest Flower & Garden Festival,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett
The Northwest Flower & Garden Festival had lots of goodies including delightful dwarf conifers.

New On the Garden Website.com

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Check out my latest two articles:
  • Plant Pests
  • Controlling Insects

Job Postings 

​For landscapers looking for work and landscape companies looking to hire.
If you are looking for work or if you wish to post a position please go to Job Postings.
Landscapers and Supervisor Wanted: 
Patricia Tyler Landscape Services in Surrey, Ocean Park area, is looking for Supervisory/Lead position and landscapers with 2 years experience and with Residential Landscape Technician (RLT) for Supervisory/Lead position. Landscape maintenance & installation. $15.00 - $25.00 per hour depending on experience read more..

Landscapers Wanted: 
White Glove Lawn and Property LTD in Abbotsford, is looking for landscapers preferably with experience and/or RLT or similar horticultural education. Landscape maintenance and installation. Hourly and Salary, 14/hr - 55,000/yr+ read more...

Prunus yedoensis 'Akebono', daybreak cherry,Northwest Flower & Garden Festival,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett
Akebono Yoshino daybreak cherry flowers early. Prunus yedoensis 'Akebono'.

Getting the Garden rolling
with Amanda

If getting your garden ready for growing seems a bit daunting, and you don't know where to start, Amanda will show you how. Want help on how to create a vegetable garden? Want to grow from seed, but don't know how? Need help trying to figure out how to get the garden ready for spring? Get Amanda to teach you the ropes in your own garden by making an appointment here. 

March Intro

daffodils,Narcissus,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Daffodils come into their own this month.
Get your mud boots on; it's back to the garden we go! 
​

March is a tricky month in British Columbia; even more so than February, as spring hesitantly staggers in. It’s often cool and rainy but a killing frost is not uncommon. Be aware of night time temperatures as they can dip below freezing, especially when there are no clouds to retain the heat of the day. Protect tender plants and ones that flower early such as camellia, flowering dogwoods and magnolia, if they are not too large to cover. Wrap them with fabric such as old sheets or cardboard, but don’t use plastic as it has little insulating value. Plants commonly will suffer from mushy leaves and rot due to the lack of air circulation. Plants are also unable to breathe, compromising their health even more. 

February was quite fickle here in the Pacific Northwest. It started off great with mild temperatures and spring seemed just moments away. Some plants were sporting new growth, but then our balmy temperatures dipped to just above freezing with cold, bone chilling wind. Those false spring starts, play havoc with plant's lives; some make it, some unfortunately don't.

Unseasonable warm conditions followed by freezing temps do affect plants negatively, but don’t give up on those that appear dead as they may not be. The thermal heat of the earth keeps roots much warmer than above the ground, which means they might have some life in them yet. If plants have not sprouted new growth by April, they are probably goners. It's not necessary to dig them up, as those dead roots will decompose in situ providing organic matter and nutrients to the soil. Either that, or chuck them in the compost.

Meanwhile, spring marches on. As gardens demand more of our time, daffodils remind us that spring is on its way. They are often pared with their primrose pals in many gardens, but I love to see them in country fields and along roadsides. How did they get there, I wonder? Maybe there is a daffodil fairy sprinkling bulbs from her bright yellow trumpet, nah… someone must have planted them. Whomever is responsible – thank you! 
​
Cheers,
Amanda

Amanda's Garden Blog

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My latest blog is all about my visit to the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle. It was an exciting journey into  veritable garden mecca.  Have a look at what I found.

  • NEW Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Seattle
  • Pruning in Winter
  • Pruning & Training Grape Vines in Winter
  • Insects & Diseases Control with Dormant Spray
  • Why Christmas cactus Don't Blossom
  • A Quickie Festive Swag
  • Putting the Garden to Bed
  • How to Drain Soggy Soil
  • A Visit to the Arizona - Sonora Desert
  • Banana, Palm Tree Winter Protection
  • Lasagna Gardening, Sheet Mulching
  • Saving Geraniums, Coleus, Bougainvilleas & Other Tender Plants 
  • Spiders Everywhere - Oh My!
  • Tomato Troubles & Soil Solarization
  • Trees That Drip That Sticky Stuff
  • Balcony Bliss
  • One Huge Beetle! 
  • A Summer's Day Harvest
  • The Dunbar Garden Club Private Tour
  • Leaky Birdbaths and Slug Free Strawberries
  • Easy Roses
  • Oops... Wrong Plant, Wrong Place
  • I Had An Ugly Lawn...
To subscribe to my blog click here. 

March Garden Stars
March flowers,Camellia,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Camellias
March flowers,evergreen clematis,Clematis armandii,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Evergreen clematis, Clematis 'Armandii'
March flowers,spring flowers,Pieris japonica,lily-of-the-valley shrub,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Lily-of-the-Valley shrub, Pieris japonica.

March PLANT COMBO

Euphorbia characias,March garden,plant combinations,the garden website.com,thegardenwebsite.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Orange cupped daffodils on the left with orange Crown Imperial on the right. Red barberry in the background and Mediterranean spurge on the left.

plant police

Plant Police,tree beds,tree suckers,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
This young tree is being held captive by a tree collar and suckers.
This tree collar was placed around this tree to prevent mechanical damage from lawn mowers and line trimmers. As you can plainly see it causes more harm than good, especially if if left on indefinitely. The plastic collar is already restricted this tree's growth and the suckers also are compromising its health.

A much better way to protect this tree would be to place a garden around it. No line trimmer or lawn mower will be needed to keep the grass away. It's a neat way to protect trees and is quite decorative. 
tree beds,plant police,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
A tree bed protects tree trunks and looks decent too.

Planting Trees & Shrubs

spring planting,planting trees & shrubs,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Now is a great time to plant, so check out your local plant nursery like the beautiful Southlands Nursery, Vancouver.
It’s safe to plant trees, shrubs, roses, vines and hardy herbaceous (non woody) perennials such as iris, peonies and aubretia, but only if the soil isn't too soggy. A good way to tell is to grab a handful of soil and squeeze it. If it drips the soil is too wet so it is best to wait.

Moving plants around the garden is best done earlier rather than later. This gives them time to establish new roots well before the summer arrives.
​
When purchasing plants, read the plant’s label for its mature width and height. It’s easy to be fooled by an irresistible cute little plant in a small pot. Keep in mind where that tree or shrub is going to fit into the garden. Size is important yes, but consider how much light is available. How many hours of light will the plant receive? Will it be the gentle morning light from the east or hot and sunny afternoon sun from the west and/or south? Most plants have specific light requirements; some need a full 6 hours of direct sun while others prefer a more shaded location. Before purchasing, take note of their preference on their label and grow in a suitable location. Remember the landscaper's adage "Right Plant, Right Place".
​
When planting trees and shrubs there is no need to prune them, but do remove any flowers, fruits and seeds. It is a sad thing to do, but they need all their energy to grow roots into their new home.
planting,spring planting,spring soil,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Soil should be moist but not dripping wet.
There is no need to stake trees when planting them unless they are top-heavy and cannot stand upright after planting, such as evergreen trees and bare-root plants. If trees have to have the extra support, remove the stake after 1 or 2 years. Don’t tie it too tightly as this will injure the trunk and weakens the tree.

Sow Seeds Outside

sowing seeds outdoors,direct seeding,spring gardens,cool season crops,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Peas like early spring's cool weather. Sow them directly in the ground.
​Don’t know when to sow those early cool season plants outside in the ground? The seed packet contains a wealth of information so read the instructions on the back of the packet. There you will find suitable growing conditions, whether the seeds should be sown inside or outside, how deep to plant them and how far apart. Seed catalogues also provide a wealth of information. I like West Coast Seeds catalogue as they also include easy to follow charts.

If you are not sure if the conditions are suitable to sow seeds outside, check to see if weeds are popping up and actively growing in your garden. For more accuracy, use a soil thermometer available at many garden centres. The minimum temperature is 4 degrees C (40 degrees F), but you will have more success when the temperature for cool season crops is at its optimum of 10 to 20 degrees C (50 to 70F).
broccoli,cool season crops,sowing seeds outdoors,direct seeding,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Broccoli is a cool season crop that can be sown outdoors or started indoors.
If the soil temperature is good, how about the moisture content of the soil? Before planting, squeeze a handful of soil and if it drips it's too wet. Wait until the soil dries out to prevent seeds from rotting. Keep seeds moist once they have been sown, then reduce watering to prevent rotting. When they have germinated check them daily to make sure they are not a slug’s breakfast, or a cutworm’s dinner.
calendula,Scotch marigold,direct seeding,propagation,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Sow calendula, Scotch marigold, directly in the ground.
Directly sow the following, when the conditions are favorable:
  • Vegetables: arugula, beets, broad beans (fava), celery, chard, collards, kale, pac and bok choi, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach
  • Herbs: borage, chamomile, chervil, chives, garlic cloves
  • Flowers: calendula, cerinth, forget-me-nots, foxgloves, hollyhocks, poppies, sweet peas, wallflowers, many wildflower mixes

Seedling Protection!

cloche,protecting seeds,extending growing season,vegetable growing,sowing seeds outdoors,direct seeding,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Cloches insulate and are an effective barrier against flying insects.
Keep seeds and seedlings warmer by covering them with a floating row cover, known as Remay garden blanket. This lightweight fabric allows air, light and water through. It also acts as barrier. It prevents aphids, cabbage moths, carrot rust fly, leaf minors and other flying pest from infesting plants as they grow. Plastic may also be used as a cover, however, water and air cannot penetrate through. Heat and moisture also builds up during the heat of the summer. In other words, it is a bit more work than the Remay. 

To make a cloche, use hoops (hula hoops cut in half or pvc stuck into rebar). Pin the ends with fabric pegs or pins designed for the job or make your own with heavy duty wire (coat hangers work well) bent into U shapes. Cloches also extend the season in fall. They are a good thing. 
cloche,cool season crops,insect barrier,growing vegetables,propagation,protecting seeds,barriers,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Inside a cloche wee veggie plants are a tad warmer and protected from leaf miners, caterpillars and carrot rust fly.
cloche,cool season crops,insect barrier,growing vegetables,propagation,protecting seeds,barriers,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Use PVC pipes to make hoops then secure them with rebar that are firmly hammered into the ground.

Spring Lawn Care

Getting to the ROot of Things

spring lawn care,aerating lawns,lawn maintenance,turf,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
A lush green lawn is achievable with correct maintenance, starting in early spring.
 Healthy, vigorous and abundant grass roots are essential to a healthy and stress tolerant lawn; and this is the perfect time of year to make that happen. Lots of fibrous roots that delve deep into the soil produce a lush, green lawn that’s better prepared to combat environmental stresses so they can defend themselves against such things as lawn grubs. 

​To promote deep roots, use an aerator once a year either in spring or fall. This machine, which you can rent or hire someone to do the job, removes 2 inch or longer cores from the turf. Core aeration provides channels for water and air to penetrate. Keep the cores on the grass, as they will quickly decompose adding valuable nutrients back into the soil. Read more...

Repairing the Lawn, Renovations, Seeding and Sodding

spring lawn care,aerating lawns,lawn maintenance,turf,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Core aeration allows water and air to penetrate into the roots and lessens soil compaction.
Seed, re-seed or lay sod while the weather is still cool and rainy. If you do it now, well before summer, you'll have more success. Grass roots will easily grow into the moist, cool soil, which are ideal conditions for our cool season grasses. Spring rains keep the soil moist for germinating seeds and improves penetration of grass roots into the soil.

Now is the time to sow grass seed on any bare, sparse spots and to thicken up a thin lawn. Use a spread to ensure an even distribution of seed.  Select a quality seed for either shade or sun depending on the conditions. Before sowing the seed, add some compost and high phosphorous fertilizer (middle number the highest) and mix it into the soil. Add the grass seed and keep moist until the seeds germinate or else they will keel over and die. 

Mossy Lawns

moss in lawns,spring lawn care,aerating lawns,lawn maintenance,turf,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Moss loves shady locations, bad drainage and acid soils. Grass does not!
Moss infiltrates lawns because the growing conditions are more suitable for the moss than the grass. That is the cold, hard truth. It is not the moss's fault, nor the lawn's. Read more....

Fertilizing Lawns

fertilizing lawns,spring lawn care,aerating lawns,lawn maintenance,turf,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
It is perfectly acceptable to use Starter Fertilizer for established lawns in spring to get roots growing.
High nitrogen fertilizers are often used on lawns in early spring for a fast green-up. Grass leaves grow with gay abandon turning the lawn in a lush green blanket. However, that beauty is only leaf deep, as it comes at the expense of the roots. The developing, spring roots strain to keep up with the demands of the excessive leafy growth. This makes the lawn vulnerable to drought, heat and other environmental stresses, which promotes chafer beetles and other lawn pests and diseases. Read more...

Liming the Lawn

liming lawns,dolopril,lime,spring lawn care,aerating lawns,lawn maintenance,turf,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Dolopril lime is easier on the soil and grass because it releases slowly over a long period of time.
It's best to test the pH of a lawn before liming the lawn. This is especially important if you always lime and the grass is still not doing well. If the grass is sparse and even weeds don't grow, then definitely get the soil tested.  Read more ...

Mowing the Lawn

lawn mowers,mowing lawns,spring lawn care,aerating lawns,lawn maintenance,turf,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Lawn Mower Maintenance: ​It’s a good idea to service the lawn mower before you start mowing. Clean the machine removing cobwebs, any leftover grass from last year and any other debris if you didn’t do so last fall. For gas mowers, ensure cables, screws and other fasteners are secure. Disconnect the wire leading to spark plugs then remove them. Clean any filters or replace with a new one if necessary. Remove the oil drain plug and drain the oil. Replace the plug and refill with the oil recommended in the owner’s manual. Remove the blades and sharpen or take to a professional sharpener. Clean the underside of the mower while the blade is off. Replace the sparkplugs and attach wire. Brush off debris off the wheels for easier maneuvering and better traction. For electric mowers, clean off debris, sharpen blades and clean the wheels. For all mowers refer to the manufacturer’s manual for specific maintenance and care. ​
mowing lawns,lawn mower,spring lawn care,aerating lawns,lawn maintenance,turf,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
​Mowing Tips: Try to remove only 1/3rd of growth at a time. This means you will have to mow at least weekly when the grass is happy and actively growing in spring and fall. Sorry about that! It really does make a difference to the lawn appearance and health. Read more...

March Garden Chores

forsythia,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Prune roses and plant cool season crops when forsythias flower.
Quickie Checklist: 
  • Tend to the lawn: aerate, lime, mow... 
  • Prune roses when forsythias blossom.
  • Sow seeds cool season crops outside and any transplants that were sown inside last month: lettuce, onions, peas
  • Check seedlings sown outside for slug damage and set up slug bait saloons.
  • Sow warm season crops inside: tomatoes, peppers... 
  • Don't plant transplants of tomatoes & other non-hardy plants: Wait until late April and May (beans, peppers, eggplants, basil etc.).
  • Deadhead daffodils and other bulbs once they finish flowering and before they form seeds.
  • Soak store bought bagged dahlias and other  summer bulbs overnight before planting in pots. 
  • Pot up dahlias, gladiolus, tuberous begonias and other stored summer bulbs in sterile potting soil for an early flowering. Place in a frost free bright area. 
  • Install new beds and enlarge existing beds.
  • Add compost, well-rotted manure and other goodies to garden and veggie beds to build and improve soil. 
  • When the soil in your garden beds has warmed and plants have started to grow, add at least a 3 inch layer of organic mulch on top of the soil. 
  • Cut back cover crops (green manure), crimson clover and annual rye, and dig them in at the end of the month or next month. This allows them to decompose before planting in May.
  • Plant seed potatoes when dandelions flower.
  • Clean up garden beds removing spent plant parts from last year.
  • Divide crowded perennials and dig up extra plants to replant elsewhere in the garden or give them away. 
  • Too many raspberry canes and other bramble fruit? Dig up the extras and give them away. 
  • Make more asters, chrysanthemums and other herbaceous perennials with basal cuttings and root division.
  • Make more shrubs by air layering. 
  • Weed: hand dig up roots and runners, then add 3 inches of mulch. 
  • Plant hardy plants now such as trees, shrubs, roses, vines and hardy herbaceous (non woody) perennials.
  • Prune summer & fall flowering plants now, but wait to prune spring flowering plants until after they have just finished blooming. 
  • Got kale? If you still have kale in your garden from last year, don't be in a hurry to pull it out. As a biennial it will pump out new tender, delicious leaves along its tall flower stalk. Add these pretty edible flowers to your salads.  
  • Stake: Staking tall (delphiniums) and floppy plants (Oriental poppies), peonies, Autumn Joy sedum early rather than later to prevent broken stems and damaged blossoms. 
  • Slugs & snails: Be vigilant in your quest to vanquish these hungry mollusks with slug bait in slug traps, copper barriers and mesh, diatomaceous earth or crushed hazelnut shells. Go out at night and when its raining to hand pick them off plants then place them in a cup of salted water. 
  • Clean, sharpen and oil garden tools. Disinfect plant pots, flats and greenhouse benches. 
dandelions,weeds,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Plant potatoes when dandelions flower.

New beds, bigger beds

making new beds,enlarging beds,sheet mulching,soil,improving soil,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Sheet mulching (lasagna gardening) makes it easy to make new beds and enlarge existing ones.
​Enlarging existing garden beds or making new ones is best done a few weeks before planting to allow the soil to settle and any amendments to work their magic. There is no need to dig up the lawn, just make the new garden on top of the grass by using the sheet mulching method (lasagna gardening). For veggie beds larger than 4 feet wide and garden beds more than 5 feet wide, install paths for ease in maintenance.  To stop grass from growing into the beds, install edging around the bed perimeter.

Improving Soil

sheep manure,soil amendments,organic matter,improving soil,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Well-rotted sheep manure adds lots of goodies to the soil.
​Replenish garden beds (and also when making new beds) with 1 to 3 inches of compost, SeaSoil or well-rotted bagged manure (sheep and llama manure are excellent). Remove any mulch first, then place the compost etc., around all your plants then replace the mulch. If you have the time and the patience, work the compost in to the existing soil. Don’t forget to do the same to the vegetable beds.

Starting Seeds Indoors

seeding indoors,sowing seeds,propagation,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Start petunia seeds indoors this month.
​Starting seeds inside gives you control unlike the variable conditions outside. Temperature of the air and soil, soil moisture and light is governed by you, not at nature's whim. Keep the soil moist; not too wet nor too dry. Too wet and the seeds and seedlings rot. Too dry and the seeds die upon germination. Once the seedlings have developed two sets of true leaves, pot them on to individual pots with drainage holes. The pots should be slightly larger than the root balls, so 2 inch pots usually suffice.
  • Vegetables: artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, eggplant, fennel, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, pak  and bok choi, parsley, peas, peppers, spinach, scallions, tomatoes
  • Herbs: basil, borage, nepeta (catnip), chives, cilantro, lavender, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme
  • Flowers: agastache, alyssum, butterfly weed, calendula, annual and perennial candytuft, carnation, celosia, chrysanthemum, clarkia, cleome, columbine, coreopsis, cornflower, cosmos, dianthus, forget-me-not, foxglove, delphinium, cone flower, gaillardia, gaura, hollyhock, lavatera, lobelia, lupin, marigold, morning glory, nasturtium, nicotiana, nigella, pansies, phacelia, rudbeckia, scabiosa (pincushion flower), snapdragon, stocs, sweet pea, verbena, veronica, viola, wallflower, yarrow, zinnia
petunias,annuals,sowing seeds indoors,propagation,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Petunias are easy to grow from seed, but do start them early.

Transplanting Seeds
​Sown Inside

sowing seeds,transplants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Repot seedlings into their own pots to make individual transplants.
If you sowed some kale and other cool season vegetables inside last month they may be ready to plant outside. There are a few caveats though. The seedlings must have at least two sets of true leaves, they should be hardened-off (acclimatized to the outside conditions) beforehand, soil temperature should be  at least 10 degrees C (50F), and it should not be dripping wet when squeezed. When the plants and conditions are suitable plant your ‘cool cats’ transplants outside such as beets, lettuce, parsley, radish, spinach, turnip, cabbage, broccoli, onions, garlic cloves and asparagus. Frost may be an issue so pay attention to the temperatures especially at night and cover the plants with old tablecloths, sheets and other breathable fabric if frost is predicted. Remove once the temperature is above freezing.
​
Wait until mid-May to plant transplants of beans, tomatoes, peppers and other tender non-hardy plants outside.

Get a hold on Weeds

weeds,spring garden maintenance,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Weeding beds now prevents future weeds, saving time and frustration.
​Although it is becoming a busy time in the garden, do try to take the time to go weed hunting. Don't just pull them up, use a trowel or special weed pulling tools made just for the job. Take as much root and runners as you can so they don’t regrow.
​
Once a garden bed is weeded, throw a 3 inch layer of organic mulch on top of the soil between plants. Use chipped up fir, hemlock, recycled wood pallets, wood chips or shredded leaves. Either buy mulch in bulk or purchase bags from garden centres. Don’t place against tree trunks; just a few inches away will do and avoid covering the shrub crowns (where stems and the roots meet).  Why mulch you ask? Mulch not only reduces weed growth, it insulates the soil, retains soil moisture, prevents soil erosion and provides nutrients. 

Horsetails: weeds without Dinosaurs

horsetails,invasive plants,Equisetum,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Got horsetails? Diligence and timing eventually curbs their enthusiasm.
Horsetails, Equisetum arvense, are so successful and tenacious, they have existed on the planet since dinosaurs roamed the earth. Apparently they were dinosaur food, hence their proliferation today. Killing them is not for the feint of heart. We have to be tenacious, sneaky and vigilant. The key is to smite them when they are at their most vulnerable state; when they first emerge from the ground. It is a common mistake to dig them up, but this just spreads them even more. Even their tiny bits will grow into new plants, making the infestation even worse. Instead, slip your fingers down into the ground as you pull each and everyone up. Go as deep as you can with your fingers then firmly pull. This removes the above ground growth and a bit of the stem below ground.

Since they are expending energy as they emerge, repeating pulling depletes their energy reserves. They are also producing spores now which weakens them and prevents their spores from making more horsetail babies. So be diligent, from spring onwards. 
​
As a caveat, don't bring in topsoil unless it is certified as horsetail free. Topsoil is usually responsible for bringing horsetails into gardens so do your homework or buy garden mixes which are also available at garden centres. Another alternative is to build existing soil with compost, well-rotted manure, composted manure and/or SeaSoil. 

What Not to Prune

pruning hydrangeas,spring pruning,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
It's too late to prune hydrangeas. Wait until autumn.
Not all plants require a haircut this time of year, in fact some would be downright angry as they are just about to blossom.
  • Rhododendron species, azalea & rhododendrons
  • Kolkwitzia amabilis, beautybush
  • Spiraea x vanhouttei, bridal wreath spirea
  • Malus spp., apples
  • Forsythia x intermedia forsythia
  • Crataegus spp., hawthorns
  • Hydrangea macrophylla, hydrangea
  • Syringa vulgaris, lilac
  • Magnolia spp., magnolias
  • Philadelphus spp., mockoranges
  • Kalmia latifolia, mountain laurel
  • Amelanchier x grandiflora, serviceberry
  • Deutzia spp., deutzias
  • Weigela spp., weigelas
  • Prunus spp: cherries, plums, apricots, peaches, almonds, ornamental flowering cherries
  • Viburnum spp., viburnum species

What to Prune

Potentilla fruticosa 'Abbotswood',white cinquefoil,spring pruning,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Cut back summer and autumn flowering plants like this Abbotswood, a white cinquefoil, (Potentilla fruticosa 'Abbotswood').
Although spring flowering plants should not be cut back now, summer and fall flowering plants should be. Some may need taming while others, such as the butterfly bush and rose of Sharon, benefit from being cut back as they become spindly over time. Here are a few likely candidates to prune now:
  • Abelia x grandiflora, abelia
  • Buddleja davidii, butterfly bush
  • Calluna vulgaris, heather, ling
  • Campsis radicans, trumpet vine
  • Ceanothus spp., California lilac species
  • Clematis spp., Group B and C clematis
  • Cornus alba, C. sericea, red-twigged dogwoods
  • Potentilla fruticosa, cinquefoil
  • Sambucus spp., elder species
  • Hibiscus syriacus, rose of Sharon

March Arrangement

Forsythia x intermedia,Spiraea vanhouttei, bridal wreath spirea,Pieris japonica,lily-of-the-valley shrub, Rhododendron,Erica carnea,winter heath,Prunus pissardii,purple-leaf plum,Narcissus ‘King Alfred’ daffodil,Magnolia stellate, star magnolia,skimmia japonica,flowering quince,chaenomeles,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,March flowers,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett
Bridal wreath spirea, forsythia, lily-of-the-valley shrub, rhododendron, winter heath, purple-leaf plum, King Alfred daffodil, star magnolia, camellia, skimmia and flowering quince.

Plant of the month
Flowering Currant - Ribes Sanguineum

Ribes sanguineum,March plant of the month,native plants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Flowering currants flowers attract butterflies and birds, including humming birds.
Ribes sanguineum,March plant of the month,native plants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Flowers are borne in profusion in March and April.
King Henry III flowering currant,Ribes sanguineum,March plant of the month,native plants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
King Edward VII flowering currant bears deep red flowers.
pink flowering currant,Ribes sanguineum,March plant of the month,native plants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
A light pink flowering currant.
white flowering currant,Ribes sanguineum 'White Icicle'Ribes sanguineum,March plant of the month,native plants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
White Icicle flowering currants are aptly named.
Common Name: Flowering Currant
Botanical Name: Ribes sanguineum
Form:   upright arching to rounded
Family: Saxifragaceae
Genus: Ribes
Species:  sanguineum (blood red)
Plant Type: broadleaf multistemmed deciduous shrub  
Mature Size: 5 - 8 ft tall and 3 - 5 ft wide
Growth: moderate
Origin: native to British Columbia to northern California
Hardiness Zone: 6
Foliage: Alternate, simple with 3 to 5 rounded lobes, dark green, doubly serrated, appear ruffled, slightly hairy and paler underneath. Yellow to red autumn colours. 
Flowers: clusters of 10 to 30 red, pink or white pendulous long racemes up to 8 cm long of ½ cm tubular flowers, March, April. 
Fruit: dark blue with a thin waxy coating, up to 9 mm long, edible, but not flavourful, suitable for jam and jellies
Stems: Thin orange or red stems that mature to greyish brown.
Exposure: sun to partial shade
Soil: soil tolerant, well-drained, moderately fertile soils, neutral or slightly acidic pH, clay soils, organic mulch beneficial, drought tolerant once established
Uses: foundation plantings, massing, mixed border, native, hedge row, small garden, woodland margin, humming birds, birds, butterflies 
Propagation:  soft wood cuttings in spring, semi-hard wood in summer and hard wood cuttings in winter, heel-cuttings November to February, refrigerate seeds for 3 months then sow. 
Pruning: Prune after flowering by 1/3rd, if needed. 
​Problems: Don't plant near pine trees as hosts white pine blister rust, susceptible to honey fungus, but has few problems. 
Cultivars: ‘White Icicle’ with white flowers, ‘Poky's Pig’ pink flowers, and a compacted cultivar is ‘King Edward VII’, which has deep red flowers.  
Comments: A beautiful and reliable native shrub. Flower clusters, shaped like grapes, dangle in profusion in early spring. Many birds enjoy these lovely flowers as well as hummingbirds and butterflies. 
currant,Ribes sanguineum,March plant of the month,native plants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
Currants are produced, however, they are not as tasty as their cousins, red currants (R. rubrum).
Ribes sanguineum,March plant of the month,native plants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
A close up of the impressive King Edward VII flowering currant.
Ribes sanguineum,March plant of the month,native plants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
There are numerous very pretty pink flowering currant cultivars.
Ribes sanguineum,March plant of the month,native plants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
My flowering currant is not a fancy cultivar, but is lovely all the same.
Ribes sanguineum,March plant of the month,native plants,March garden,thegardenwebsite.com,the garden website.com,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda's Garden Consulting
My flowering currant turns yellow with a smattering of red in the autumn.
Picture
White Icicle flowering currant.

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for the tropical Gardener

Ornamental Tropical Shrubs,Pineapple Press,Amanda Jarrett,thegardenwebsite.com
While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here. 


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