Rotary Park at Delta's Municipal Hall in Ladner, B.C.
Garden Chores for March
March Garden Chore Index
March Garden Stars - Garden Classes - March Garden Chores
Sowing Seeds Indoors - Growing Tomatoes from Seed - Hardening Off Plants - Sowing Seeds Outside
Lawn Care - Sad Lawns - The First Mow - Feeding the Lawn
Dahlias, Tuberous Begonias & Summer Bulbs - Overwintered Geraniums - All About Roses
Making New Beds - Cover Crops & Green Manure - Cleaning Up the Garden - Composting
In the Vegetable Garden - Protecting Veggies - Add Lime? Maybe - Potatoes, Rhubarb & Raspberries
March Pruning - Make More Plants - Staking - Slugs/Snails - Aphids/Greenflies - Container Grown Veggies
Plant of the Month - Fawn Lilies - Ornamental Tropical Shrubs - A book for the tropical gardener.
Sowing Seeds Indoors - Growing Tomatoes from Seed - Hardening Off Plants - Sowing Seeds Outside
Lawn Care - Sad Lawns - The First Mow - Feeding the Lawn
Dahlias, Tuberous Begonias & Summer Bulbs - Overwintered Geraniums - All About Roses
Making New Beds - Cover Crops & Green Manure - Cleaning Up the Garden - Composting
In the Vegetable Garden - Protecting Veggies - Add Lime? Maybe - Potatoes, Rhubarb & Raspberries
March Pruning - Make More Plants - Staking - Slugs/Snails - Aphids/Greenflies - Container Grown Veggies
Plant of the Month - Fawn Lilies - Ornamental Tropical Shrubs - A book for the tropical gardener.
Garden Club Events
Post your plant sales, garden tours & events and for more information on the events, click Garden Club Events & on the green text below.
Heliolepis var. heliolepis rhododendron at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
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There's lots of goodies at garden club plant sales.
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White Rock Garden Club Plant Sale
Saturday, May 3, 2025, 9 am to 1 pm, Ocean Park Community Hall, 1577-128th St., Surrey, B.C. Features plants, hanging baskets, floral arrangements, baked good & draw prizes. Cash only.
Saturday, May 3, 2025, 9 am to 1 pm, Ocean Park Community Hall, 1577-128th St., Surrey, B.C. Features plants, hanging baskets, floral arrangements, baked good & draw prizes. Cash only.
Fellow Gardeners..
Alison's neighbourly view of the Alex Fraser Bridge at sunset.
Hello Fellow Gardeners,
March weather is known to be fickle as the grasp of winter becomes weaker and spring marches on. Even in the temperate climate of coastal British Columbia, freezing temperatures, snow, hail and sleet are not unheard of. It’s not a good thing as early flowering plants suffer for it. It’s so disappointing as ornamental cherry trees, dogwood and magnolia trees will fail to blossom. March is a busy month. The longer days break free from the dark days of winter and the garden is alive with birdsong. The spring equinox, on March 20, means that the length of night and day are the same. Plants respond favourably with the extra light. Daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs burst forth with their beautiful and brilliant blossoms. Trees and shrubs don shades of green as their foliage emerges on their bare stems. The smell of spring is in the air. There’s gardening to be done. It’s time to get down and dirty. The garden awaits! Cheers, Amanda Garden Videos
Click on the pic to visit my YouTube channel.
Gardening Classes
Location: Credo Christian High School 21846 52 Ave Langley.
Click on the coloured links below or the pics above to be redirected to the Fraser Valley Continuing Education website. Pruning the Right Way: Theory in the morning, practicum outside in the afternoon. Includes fruit trees, roses, hydrangeas and more, Saturday, March 29, 2025, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, $59.99. Bring a lunch. Grow Your Own Food: From sowing seeds indoors to planting outdoors, learn how to grow healthy and productive crops without the use of synthetic products. April 5, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, $59.99. Bring a lunch. Lawn Care: Learn the secrets of a healthy lawn that resists lawn grubs, correct maintenance and how to repair and install new ones. April 12, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm, $29.99. Preparing for Spring: There's lots to do in the garden, learn where to start and what to do. Planting, organic pest control, tree care and other gardening techniques and methods will be covered. April 12 2024, 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm, $29.99. |
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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'Magic Marlot' skimmia, S,
japonica 'Magic Marlot', broadleaf evergreen shrub, 18-24”, shade, part shade. Zones 6 to 9.
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Glory-of-the-Snow, Chionodoxa luciliae, spring flowering bulb, to 6”. Zones 3 to 8.
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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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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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Forsythia, Forsythia x intermedia, deciduous shrub, sun, part shade, 6’-10’ x 8’-12’. Zones 5 to 8.
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Fumewort, Corydalis solida, herbaceous perennial, 1’ tall and wide, flowers March to May, shade, summer dormancy. Zones 4 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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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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Lutescens rhododendron, Rhododendron lutescens, broadleaf evergreen, 3-7’ x 4-5’, part sun. Zones 6 to 9.
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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
Spring has started. The crocuses are up, the rose canes are sprouting tender new leaves, and the flowering cherry trees are the talk of the town. It’s time to do some gardening. Let the games begin.
Need some spring colour? Visit your local garden centre.
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Things are happening in the garden.
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March Garden Inspections: It’s early spring and the sweet faces of crocuses, snowdrops and early flowering bulbs are a welcome sight. Meanwhile, other plants in the garden might be showing signs of winter damage with brown and silver leaves. Branches broken by snow and ice will need some TLC, whilst weeds will be having their wild ways as weave their way through gardens. And let’s not forget about slugs and snails. They are in a feeding frenzy as they devour the new growth on emerging plants. For more on what to look for click on Garden Inspections.
Read seed packets for planting & care info.
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Petunias need to be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
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Sow cool season crops indoors to give them a head start.
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Sowing Seeds: Before sowing any seeds, read the instructions on the back of the seed packet. It will tell you when to sow the seeds and if they should be sown inside, outside or both. Warm season, slow growing plants such as tomatoes, peppers and petunias are frost sensitive. They must be sown indoors in late February and into March as they take about 6 to 8 weeks from being sown to being planted outside - after the danger of frost has passed. Plant outside after being Hardening Off and night temperatures are at least 10°C (50°F).
Cold hardy plants such as spinach, radish and kale are best started indoors so they are safe from slugs, snails, cutworms and inclement weather. Plant these cool cats outside once they grow a few sets of leaves and are big enough to handle and the daytime temperatures are consistently are above 10°C (50°F) without the threat of frost at night.
Cold hardy plants such as spinach, radish and kale are best started indoors so they are safe from slugs, snails, cutworms and inclement weather. Plant these cool cats outside once they grow a few sets of leaves and are big enough to handle and the daytime temperatures are consistently are above 10°C (50°F) without the threat of frost at night.
Seedlings need extra light so they don't become leggy.
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Spray seedlings with chamomile tea to prevent damping off fungi.
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A propagation set up includes adjustable lighting and a heating mat.
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A heated propagation mat encourages root growth.
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Sow Seeds Indoors: To grow vigorous, stocky plants from seeds its important to provide extra lighting. Without it, the seedlings are weak, stringy and lean towards any light source. Use grow lights or fluorescent tubes attached to a timer for ease of use and continuity of light. Place them 4 to 6 inches directly above the seedlings. The light source must be adjustable so it can be raised as the seedlings grow. Set the timer to twelve to sixteen hours to encourage healthy stocky growth. Heated propagation mat encourages strong roots, but get one with a thermostat to monitor the temperature. For more information click on Sowing Seeds Indoors. For a short video on mixing soil for seedlings click here.
Sow tomato seeds in late Feb, early March.
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These tomato seedlings need to be potted on.
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Tomato seedlings after being transplanted into individual pots.
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Tomato plants potted into 1 gallon pots.
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Bush Beefsteak tomatoes don't disappoint.
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Tomatoes from Seed: To grow tomatoes from seed can be quite a challenge, especially if it's your first rodeo, so to speak. Experience does help, especially failures as heartbreaking as it is, however we learn from our mistakes. I know I did. I hope this links help you grow healthy and delicious tomatoes: 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.
Slowly acclimatize indoor grown seedlings to the outdoors.
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Silver leaf on a tomato plant.
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These basil seedlings weren't prepared for the outdoors.
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Planting Seedlings Grown Indoors Outside – Hardening Off
Seedlings that are sown inside must be acclimatized (hardened off) to the outdoors after being coddled indoors where conditions are stable and gentle. Even cold hardy plants, such as peas and spinach, may suffer damage, if not death. Leaves take on a silver hue or turn brown and may wilt, wither then die.
Move seedlings that have at least 3 sets of leaves and are big enough to handle outdoors to a protected area for an hour. Each day thereafter, increase the time you leave them outdoors by an hour or two. At the same time, give them more exposure to the sun and wind. After about a week or two, plant the seedlings outdoors once they have spent the entire day and night outdoors. For more details click on Hardening Off Plants.
Seedlings that are sown inside must be acclimatized (hardened off) to the outdoors after being coddled indoors where conditions are stable and gentle. Even cold hardy plants, such as peas and spinach, may suffer damage, if not death. Leaves take on a silver hue or turn brown and may wilt, wither then die.
Move seedlings that have at least 3 sets of leaves and are big enough to handle outdoors to a protected area for an hour. Each day thereafter, increase the time you leave them outdoors by an hour or two. At the same time, give them more exposure to the sun and wind. After about a week or two, plant the seedlings outdoors once they have spent the entire day and night outdoors. For more details click on Hardening Off Plants.
Wait for the soil temperature to be 10°C (50°F) to plant seeds outdoors.
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Radish seeds are best sown outside.
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Peas can be sown inside and outside.
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Sow Seeds Outdoors
Sowing seeds outside too early leads to seeds that rot in the ground. Even cool season crops like spinach, radishes, kale and peas will fail. Wait for weeds to grow and the ground is workable and no longer a muddy quagmire. Soil temperature should be at least 10°C (50°F) with no frost at night.
Read seed packets to find out if the seeds are suitable to sow outside and when they should be sown. Carrots, dill, fennel, radishes, beets, cilantro are best sown directly outside as they don’t transplant well. Sow them outdoors as early as 4 weeks before the last frost date when conditions are suitable. For more information click on Sowing Seeds Outdoors.
Sowing seeds outside too early leads to seeds that rot in the ground. Even cool season crops like spinach, radishes, kale and peas will fail. Wait for weeds to grow and the ground is workable and no longer a muddy quagmire. Soil temperature should be at least 10°C (50°F) with no frost at night.
Read seed packets to find out if the seeds are suitable to sow outside and when they should be sown. Carrots, dill, fennel, radishes, beets, cilantro are best sown directly outside as they don’t transplant well. Sow them outdoors as early as 4 weeks before the last frost date when conditions are suitable. For more information click on Sowing Seeds Outdoors.
Start off spring lawn care by raking the lawn.
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Aerators help create healthy lawns.
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Look for grass seed that contains a starter fertilizer.
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Lawn Care
As soon as the lawn isn’t a soggy mess, use a lawn rake to remove debris and to lift the grass blades. Rent a lawn aerator or hire someone to do the job. Aerators pull up plugs of grass and soil, which opens the soil to allow water and air to penetrate into grass root zone.
To further improve the lawn, consider topdressing it with a 1 inch layer of fine compost or garden loam. Spread it over top of the lawn. Follow up with premium grass seed that includes a starter fertilizer. Fix up any brown and dead patches the same way. Just scuff up the patch, add soil, sow the seeds, firm then gently water. Keep seeds moist until they germinate in about a week.
As soon as the lawn isn’t a soggy mess, use a lawn rake to remove debris and to lift the grass blades. Rent a lawn aerator or hire someone to do the job. Aerators pull up plugs of grass and soil, which opens the soil to allow water and air to penetrate into grass root zone.
To further improve the lawn, consider topdressing it with a 1 inch layer of fine compost or garden loam. Spread it over top of the lawn. Follow up with premium grass seed that includes a starter fertilizer. Fix up any brown and dead patches the same way. Just scuff up the patch, add soil, sow the seeds, firm then gently water. Keep seeds moist until they germinate in about a week.
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Sad Lawn? Get a soil test done at a professional soil lab to find out what the problem is. A mossy lawn is a symptom of acidic soil with a pH of 5.0 to 5.5, however lawns prefer a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. To raise the pH to best suit the lawn, not the moss, use dolomite or Dolopril lime (coated dolomite lime). This type of lime not only increase soil pH, but it also corrects calcium and magnesium deficiencies. Avoid fast acting lime as it may burn lawn roots and doesn’t have the benefits of dolomite lime. For more on pH, click here.
Sharpen and clean mower blades.
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Avoid leaving clumps of cut grass on the lawn.
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A 'scalped' lawn has been cut too short.
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Mow grass when it is 3 inches long.
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The First Mow: Before using the mower, clean and sharpen the mower blade. Wait for the grass to grow to 3 inches before mowing, which is usually March or April - depending on your climate. Cut off only 1/3 of the grass blade at a time, as removing too much at once results in root die-back and a stressed out lawn. Avoid cutting wet grass. It encourages diseases and the clumps of the wet grass smothers the lawn. It looks unsightly too. More on Spring Lawn Care.
Avoid lawn fertilizers like this one that contains high nitrogen this time of year.
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It's preferable to use an organic fertilizer that's not too high in nitrogen.
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Select a fertilizer with trace elements, micronutrients and organic matter.
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Phosphorus fertilizers, middle number is highest, stimulates roots and flowers.
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Feeding the Lawn
Now is not the time to give the lawn a heavy dose of nitrogen fertilizer. Sure, the lawn will be a luscious green and grow like crazy, but it is short lived and sadly, at the expense of the roots. The better the roots the healthier and happier the lawn. To encourage strong roots, apply a high phosphorous fertilizer (middle number highest). Avoid synthetics as they are detrimental to soil life and deplete the soil’s organic matter. On the other hand, organic fertilizers do not deplete organic matter. They also release nutrients slowly over a long period of time and encourage a healthy soil food web. Here's more on Fertilizers & Ratios - Organic Plant Food - Feeding Plants 101- Lawn Care - Lawn Maintenance Schedule
Now is not the time to give the lawn a heavy dose of nitrogen fertilizer. Sure, the lawn will be a luscious green and grow like crazy, but it is short lived and sadly, at the expense of the roots. The better the roots the healthier and happier the lawn. To encourage strong roots, apply a high phosphorous fertilizer (middle number highest). Avoid synthetics as they are detrimental to soil life and deplete the soil’s organic matter. On the other hand, organic fertilizers do not deplete organic matter. They also release nutrients slowly over a long period of time and encourage a healthy soil food web. Here's more on Fertilizers & Ratios - Organic Plant Food - Feeding Plants 101- Lawn Care - Lawn Maintenance Schedule
Hollyhill Zarina cactus dahlia.
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Give dahlias a head start by potting them up.
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Time to pot up tuberous begonias.
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Keep potted begonias in a frost free location.
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Dahlias, Tuberous Begonias & Other Stored Bulbs
Pot up overwintered stored summer bulbs such as dahlias, gladiolus, cannas, callas, caladiums and tuberous begonias. This gives them a good head start by the time they go outside by mid-May. Use sterile potting soil in pots with drainage holes. Place them in on trays to catch the water when watering. Place in a frost free and bright area. Use grow lights and a heater if needed. For more specifics click on Dahlias – Tuberous Begonias
Pot up overwintered stored summer bulbs such as dahlias, gladiolus, cannas, callas, caladiums and tuberous begonias. This gives them a good head start by the time they go outside by mid-May. Use sterile potting soil in pots with drainage holes. Place them in on trays to catch the water when watering. Place in a frost free and bright area. Use grow lights and a heater if needed. For more specifics click on Dahlias – Tuberous Begonias
A geranium after being semi-dormant in the basement.
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The same geranium after being cleaned-up and cut back.
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Once cleaned up, the plant is repotted.
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It doesn't take long for new leaves, stems & flowers to grow.
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Geraniums (Pelargonium)
Overwintered geraniums should be strutting new growth as they respond to the longer days and shorter nights. Remove all the dead growth including any brown leaves. Cut back each stem by half, then repot in the same pot or a slightly larger one. For ones that are rootbound, loosen up the roots with your hand but keep the rootball intact.
Use fresh potting soil after mixing in some slow release plant food. Add some transplant fertilizer to water before watering thoroughly. Place in a sunny window, or preferably under grow lights, set on a timer for 12 to 14 hours per day. Harden off before placing outside. For more on overwintering tropical plants click on Geraniums.
Overwintered geraniums should be strutting new growth as they respond to the longer days and shorter nights. Remove all the dead growth including any brown leaves. Cut back each stem by half, then repot in the same pot or a slightly larger one. For ones that are rootbound, loosen up the roots with your hand but keep the rootball intact.
Use fresh potting soil after mixing in some slow release plant food. Add some transplant fertilizer to water before watering thoroughly. Place in a sunny window, or preferably under grow lights, set on a timer for 12 to 14 hours per day. Harden off before placing outside. For more on overwintering tropical plants click on Geraniums.
Jubilee Celebration, a David Austin rose.
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Prune roses when forsythias flower.
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Cut off all dead rose canes.
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A rose before being pruned.
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The same rose after being pruned.
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It’s All About Roses
It’s safe to prune roses once forsythias flower, which is usually around mid-March. First remove all the dead, sickly, broken, spindly canes, ones that cross each other and any that grow towards the centre of the plant. Cut back each remaining cane by a third. Cut just above a bud (node) that faces away from the plant’s centre.
Follow up by removing all debris from the base and around the plant. Mix in a few inches of compost in the surrounding area and give it a drink if necessary. Follow up by placing 3 inches of mulch on top of the soil around the plant. For more click on Pruning Roses - Easy Roses - Types of Roses - Rose Insects & Diseases - Climbing Roses - Portland's Rose Test Garden
It’s safe to prune roses once forsythias flower, which is usually around mid-March. First remove all the dead, sickly, broken, spindly canes, ones that cross each other and any that grow towards the centre of the plant. Cut back each remaining cane by a third. Cut just above a bud (node) that faces away from the plant’s centre.
Follow up by removing all debris from the base and around the plant. Mix in a few inches of compost in the surrounding area and give it a drink if necessary. Follow up by placing 3 inches of mulch on top of the soil around the plant. For more click on Pruning Roses - Easy Roses - Types of Roses - Rose Insects & Diseases - Climbing Roses - Portland's Rose Test Garden
No need to dig up the lawn with the lasagna garden method.
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A new bed was placed on top of the grass.
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Newspaper and/or cardboard smothers the lawn.
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Soil is then placed on top.
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Three inches of mulch is the last layer.
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Making New Beds: If you need more beds to grow more plants there’s no need to dig up the lawn. Sheet mulching, also known as lasagna gardening, uses newspapers and/or cardboard to smother the lawn. Soil is then placed over top followed by a layer of mulch. For more information click on Lasagna Gardening.
Cut back winter peas when the flower. Feel free to eat their tasty leaves.
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Crimson clover adds nitrogen and attracts pollinators.
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Crimson clover becomes green manure once it has been cut back and dug in.
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Cover Crops & Green Manure: Cover crop such as fall rye or crimson clover should be starting to grow with vigor this month. Chop them up and incorporate them into the soil for a nutritious and soil building green manure. Wait a couple of weeks for it to decompose before planting. To learn more, click on Cover Crops.
Don't rake organic debris from garden beds.
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Japanese snowbell flowers contribute to the soil's organic matter.
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Ladybugs overwinter in leaf litter.
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Bumble bees make nests in organic debris.
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Don’t Clean Up the Garden! Raking all the organic debris from garden beds, reduces beneficial insects by 90%! Leave the leaf litter on the ground and not only will beneficial organisms thrive, the garden won't become dependant on fertilizers.To further increase soil's fertility and health, avoid fertilizer to add nutrition to the soil, add compost and other organic matter such as foliage and well-rotted manure.
Organic matter builds the soil, adds micronutrients and trace elements. It also increases the number of beneficial organisms, which break down organic matter and turn it into nutrients essential for plant growth. Purchase bagged compost where garden products are sold.
Refrain from using synthetic fertilizers as it depletes the soil’s organic matter and beneficial organisms. Synthetic fertilizers create more work for you as the plants become fertilizer dependent, unlike compost, which is ecologically sustainable. To further help your soil and reduce maintenance, apply a 3 inch layer of mulch on top of the soil. For more information click on Organic Plant Food.
Organic matter builds the soil, adds micronutrients and trace elements. It also increases the number of beneficial organisms, which break down organic matter and turn it into nutrients essential for plant growth. Purchase bagged compost where garden products are sold.
Refrain from using synthetic fertilizers as it depletes the soil’s organic matter and beneficial organisms. Synthetic fertilizers create more work for you as the plants become fertilizer dependent, unlike compost, which is ecologically sustainable. To further help your soil and reduce maintenance, apply a 3 inch layer of mulch on top of the soil. For more information click on Organic Plant Food.
It's time to use the compost you made last year.
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Sieve the compost before using.
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Keep some of the compost to seed the next batch. Add a green layer of kitchen scraps.
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Top off with a layer of newspapers or brown foliage.
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Compost: 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 with a couple of inches of compost. It’s all that’s needed to ‘seed’ the next batch of compost. Add a green layer of kitchen scraps and non-weedy or seedy garden vegetation. Follow up with 4 to 6 inches of brown, carbon layer such as torn newspaper or fall foliage. For more click on Composting.
Plant cool crops outside now when conditions permit.
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Practice companion planting.
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Rotate veggies crops from last year's beds.
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In the Veggie Garden:
Clean away all debris, dead plants and any weeds. Mix in a couple of inches of compost and rake level. (Keep any kale that survived the winter as their new leaves and flowers are quite tasty.) Rotate crops from last year to prevent the spread of diseases, insects and nutrient deficiencies.
Practice companion planting to encourage healthy and tasty crops. Mixing crops together that grow well together also saves space. Plant garlic as a barrier to prevent aphids attacking vulnerable plants. Grow bush beans next to broccoli and eggplants (aubergines) as they provide essential nitrogen for neighbouring plants. For more click select Spring Veggie Gardening - Growing Food - Crop Rotation, Succession & Companion Planting
Clean away all debris, dead plants and any weeds. Mix in a couple of inches of compost and rake level. (Keep any kale that survived the winter as their new leaves and flowers are quite tasty.) Rotate crops from last year to prevent the spread of diseases, insects and nutrient deficiencies.
Practice companion planting to encourage healthy and tasty crops. Mixing crops together that grow well together also saves space. Plant garlic as a barrier to prevent aphids attacking vulnerable plants. Grow bush beans next to broccoli and eggplants (aubergines) as they provide essential nitrogen for neighbouring plants. For more click select Spring Veggie Gardening - Growing Food - Crop Rotation, Succession & Companion Planting
A newspaper collar stops cutworms.
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Toothpicks stop cutworms from severing young stems.
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A tunnel cloche, provides a barrier to insects.
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Floating row covers also protect plants.
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Protecting Veggies
Avoid disappointment from crops being eaten alive by protecting plants. The most effective way is to use barriers instead killing insects, which also kills beneficial insects and pollinators. Use a cloche tunnel or a floating row cover, over vulnerable plants to prevent insects from laying eggs in the soil, on plants and from being eaten. Look for kits in dollar, home hardware, garden stores and online.
Protect newly planted seedlings from cutworms. They are the larva (caterpillars) of night flying moths that kill young plants by severing their stems. There's a few ways to foil these floral foes. Place cloches over the bed at planting to prevent the moths from laying their eggs in the soil. Another method is to wrap the stems on transplants and starter plants with strips of newspaper wrapped around the stem or use toothpicks. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around each plant, and reapply after rain and after watering. Lastly, try Thuricide, bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). It is an organic control that uses a bacteria that only affects caterpillars. For click on Plant Pests Part 2 - Controlling Insects
Avoid disappointment from crops being eaten alive by protecting plants. The most effective way is to use barriers instead killing insects, which also kills beneficial insects and pollinators. Use a cloche tunnel or a floating row cover, over vulnerable plants to prevent insects from laying eggs in the soil, on plants and from being eaten. Look for kits in dollar, home hardware, garden stores and online.
Protect newly planted seedlings from cutworms. They are the larva (caterpillars) of night flying moths that kill young plants by severing their stems. There's a few ways to foil these floral foes. Place cloches over the bed at planting to prevent the moths from laying their eggs in the soil. Another method is to wrap the stems on transplants and starter plants with strips of newspaper wrapped around the stem or use toothpicks. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around each plant, and reapply after rain and after watering. Lastly, try Thuricide, bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). It is an organic control that uses a bacteria that only affects caterpillars. For click on Plant Pests Part 2 - Controlling Insects
Lime the soil where cabbage and other brassicas are to grow.
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Do not add lime where potatoes are to grow.
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Cut off rhubarb flowers.
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Prune out raspberry canes that have born fruit.
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Add Lime? Maybe: Before planting broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and other brassicas, apply Dolopril lime to the soil to prevent club root. Apply according to the directions.
Potatoes: Plant seed potatoes when dandelions flower. Avoid adding lime to the soil as sweeter soil encourages potato scab.
Rhubarb: Remove old foliage used as a winter mulch. Mix in an inch or so of compost around the plant. Cut off the flower spikes as soon as they appear. Water when needed.
Raspberries: Prune them while they are still dormant; before they sprout new leaves. Cut off all the canes that produced fruit to the ground. Too many raspberry canes and other bramble fruit? Dig up the extras and give them away.
Potatoes: Plant seed potatoes when dandelions flower. Avoid adding lime to the soil as sweeter soil encourages potato scab.
Rhubarb: Remove old foliage used as a winter mulch. Mix in an inch or so of compost around the plant. Cut off the flower spikes as soon as they appear. Water when needed.
Raspberries: Prune them while they are still dormant; before they sprout new leaves. Cut off all the canes that produced fruit to the ground. Too many raspberry canes and other bramble fruit? Dig up the extras and give them away.
Just pull horsetails out of the ground, don't dig them up.
Bindweed spreads underground and pops up everywhere.
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There are many useful weeding tools available.
Use a cultivator to dislodge seedlings and seeds.
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Try to get all the roots.
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Let’s Kill Some Weeds: Use a hoe, rake or a cultivator to kill weed seeds as they pop up in garden beds. To prevent weed seeds from germinating, use corn gluten meal. Available at garden centres, this organic product also contains a small amount of nitrogen. Avoid using it where desirable seeds have been or will be sown.
Hand weeding offers instant gratification, but do ensure that you get all the roots, runners, flowers & seed heads. Make it easier with weed pulling tools available at garden centres and hardware store. Be careful when using any herbicides as they easily contaminate surrounding plants.
Select environmentally friendly herbicides like Safer’s fatty acids, horticultural grade vinegar and there’s many home remedies available on the internet. Avoid Roundup, glyphosate, as it is linked to numerous health issues and it is harmful to the environment and pollinators. For more info click on DrugWatch. Once the bed is weeded, place a 3 inch layer of organic mulch on top of the soil and between the plants.
For difficult to kill weeds such as horsetails and bindweed, get them as soon as they poke their way through the ground. Don’t dig them up as that spreads them even more, instead slip your fingers down into the ground and pull. Avoid purchasing topsoil unless it is certified horsetail and weed free. For more click on Horsetail, the Weed.
Hand weeding offers instant gratification, but do ensure that you get all the roots, runners, flowers & seed heads. Make it easier with weed pulling tools available at garden centres and hardware store. Be careful when using any herbicides as they easily contaminate surrounding plants.
Select environmentally friendly herbicides like Safer’s fatty acids, horticultural grade vinegar and there’s many home remedies available on the internet. Avoid Roundup, glyphosate, as it is linked to numerous health issues and it is harmful to the environment and pollinators. For more info click on DrugWatch. Once the bed is weeded, place a 3 inch layer of organic mulch on top of the soil and between the plants.
For difficult to kill weeds such as horsetails and bindweed, get them as soon as they poke their way through the ground. Don’t dig them up as that spreads them even more, instead slip your fingers down into the ground and pull. Avoid purchasing topsoil unless it is certified horsetail and weed free. For more click on Horsetail, the Weed.
Plant trees so their trunks flare into the ground.
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This tree was planted too deeply.
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Tree beds protect tree trunks from mowers and line trimmers.
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Ball & burlap plants are grown in solid clay.
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The burlap should have been cut off and the string & wire removed. It will eventually die.
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Cut tightly bound roots.
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It’s time to Plant
Spring’s cool wet weather is perfect for planting trees, shrubs, fruit trees, evergreens, conifers and vines. It gives them time to establish themselves before it gets hot and dry. When purchasing plants, avoid balled & burlap as they are grown in solid clay and are difficult to move and transplant, plus they are more expensive than container grown ones. When planting anything don’t just stick it in the soil. Plants, especially trees, must be at the right depth so they live a long and healthy life without dieback, bugs and diseases. To learn more about planting methods click on Planting Know How.
Spring’s cool wet weather is perfect for planting trees, shrubs, fruit trees, evergreens, conifers and vines. It gives them time to establish themselves before it gets hot and dry. When purchasing plants, avoid balled & burlap as they are grown in solid clay and are difficult to move and transplant, plus they are more expensive than container grown ones. When planting anything don’t just stick it in the soil. Plants, especially trees, must be at the right depth so they live a long and healthy life without dieback, bugs and diseases. To learn more about planting methods click on Planting Know How.
Prune off all dead branches.
Cut off broken branches.
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Remove suckers from trees any time of the year.
Don't cut the top off trees!
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Cut back ornamental grasses as the new grass starts to grow.
Cut back mophead hydrangeas stems to two big fat buds high up on the stem.
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March Pruning
- At any time of the year, remove all dead branches. Follow up by removing anything that’s diseased, buggy and sickly. Prune out any suckers and watersprouts. They are those weird branches that grow perfectly upright without any side stems. If you don’t cut them off, they will take over the plant.
- The object of pruning is not to make plants smaller, just healthier. This is why all the dead and diseased parts and suckers should go first. Once that’s done, remove all the spindly stems, than all that grow towards the centre of the plant. This allows air to circulate and the sun to prevent diseases and weak growth.
- Prune summer & fall flowering plants now but wait to prune spring flowering plants until after they have just finished blooming. Here's more on pruning: Pruning Basics 101 - Pruning Tools - Pruning Clematis- Prune Your Own Garden Registration
Divide and transplant perennials.
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A heel cutting from a Aztec Pearl mock orange (Choisya ternata).
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Cuttings are placed in a bright location out of direct sun.
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Make More Plants: Divide overgrown perennials by digging them up or slicing chunks off with a sharp shovel. Pot them up to give away or plant them elsewhere in the garden. Take cuttings from trees and shrubs.
Place supports on peonies and other plants before they need them.
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Delphiniums often need staking.
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Stake Now: Trying to support plants once they have fallen prey to gravity, usually ends up with broken, mashed up branches and a weird looking plant, which I personally can attest to. Although it’s still early in the growing season, it’s a good idea to set up their supports now so you can guide them as they grow. Plants that need help are peonies, delphiniums, foxgloves, oriental poppies, garden phlox, asters, balloon flowers (Platycodon), helenium and Autumn Joy sedum.
Look for ladybugs where there's aphids.
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The circled insect is a ladybug larvae so don't kill it.
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Aphids excrete honeydew, which attracts black sooty mould.
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An artichoke is protected from aphids with a stocking.
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It's the season of the slug.
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Aphids/Greenflies: These wee insects are small but mighty as they form colonies on tender new foliage and buds. Curled and distorted leaves are the result of their feeding as they suck the juice out of plant tissues. Before hosing them off, spraying them with soap and water, or an insecticide, look for ladybugs. Since aphids are their favourite food, don’t be surprised to see them making a meal out of them. To save the ladybugs, just squish the aphids with a gloved hand.
If aphids are a problem in your garden, go easy on the nitrogen as it stimulates tender new growth. For more on controlling insects, click here. Plants suffering from aphids are also prone to Black Sooty Mould. The mould is attracted to the sweet honeydew that the aphids secrete.
Slugs & Snails: They are out in full force feeding on the new spring growth of primroses, hostas as well as other poor plants. There are numerous homemade remedies as well as commercial controls. To find out what those controls are, click on Slugs & Snails.
If aphids are a problem in your garden, go easy on the nitrogen as it stimulates tender new growth. For more on controlling insects, click here. Plants suffering from aphids are also prone to Black Sooty Mould. The mould is attracted to the sweet honeydew that the aphids secrete.
Slugs & Snails: They are out in full force feeding on the new spring growth of primroses, hostas as well as other poor plants. There are numerous homemade remedies as well as commercial controls. To find out what those controls are, click on Slugs & Snails.
A lush planter of bush beans, chard & broccoli.
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Edible flowers combine with kale & broccoli.
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Planters take the place of a garden in this narrow space.
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Container Grown Veggies: As long as you have a pot with drainage holes you can grow some veggies. Use bagged planter soil, found at garden centres and hardware stores. Since it’s only March, it’s too early to plant tomatoes and peppers, but it’s perfect for peas, lettuce, chard, kale, spinach, broccoli, potatoes and other cool season crops. Set planters on drainage trays to collect excess water. Either sow seeds, or purchase starter plants from garden nurseries. To learn more about growing in containers click on Growing In Containers and Choosing a Container.
March Plant of the month
Fawn/Trout Lily
Pagoda fawn lilies combine nicely with lungwort's blue blossoms (Pulmonaria officinalis).
The coastal trout lily, aka mahogany fawn lily, E. revolutum, is native to the Pacific Northwest.
Fawn lilies naturalize to create beautiful ground covers.
The hybrid fawn lily, Pagoda has bigger flowers than the species.
Fawn lilies are spring ephemeral plants, as they die back after flowering.
Yellow trout lily, E. americanum, has distinctive speckled foliage.
Yellow trout lilies do well in shade to partial shade. E. americanum.
Yellow trout lily is also known as yellow dog-tooth violet. Erythronium americanum.
California fawn lily, E. californicum, has large blossoms up to 2 inches across.
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Common Name: trout lilies, dog-tooth violets, fawn lilies, adder's tongue
Botanical Name: Erythronium Form: low, vase shaped Family: Liliaceae Genus: Erythronium Species: numerous Plant Type: corms, herbaceous perennial Mature Size: up to 8 inches including flowers Origin: North America, Eurasia Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8 Foliage: wide, strap-like leaves up to 6” long, deep green with brownish mottled markings Flowers: nodding, lily-like with 6 recurved petals in yellow, pink or mauve (depending on the species) om leafless stems in March, April. Exposure: partial shade to shade Soil: moist, acidic fertile loam Uses: woodland & shade gardens, borders, naturalize Attracts: early bees & another pollinators Invasive Tendencies: naturalizes, but not a nuisance Tolerates: deer Propagation: cormels Problems: slugs and snails Comments: There are over 20 erythronium species globally, and all of them produce dainty nodding flowers with six recurved petals. The yellow trout lily, E. americanum, is a lovely North American indigenous wildflower. It also has a myriad of common names including yellow dog-tooth violet, yellow fawn lily and yellow adder’s tongue. These names are misleading as there are neither violets nor a fawn, a dog, or an adder. The common names refer to some similarity to part of an animal part, such as dog-tooth violets. It refers to the tooth-like shape of their underground corms. Erythroniums naturally grow in the temperature climates of North America, Asia and Europe. Their ability to naturalize in shaded wooded locations makes these little lilies a treasured plant. Despite their ability to spread, erythroniums, do not transplant well. As a word of warning, if you see these beauties growing in the wild, it is illegal to dig them up. Take a picture instead. Erythroniums perform best in shaded to partly shaded areas in moist fertile, acidic soil. Plant corms 2 to 3 inches deep and 4 to 5 inches apart. Colonies soon form as offsets and underground runners are produced. Don’t worry about them becoming invasive as they don’t pop everywhere. Because of their beauty and their ability to grow in shaded, wooded locations, erythroniums are coveted plants. As with all erythroniums, their leaves emerge from an underground corm in early spring. These basal leaves form a rosette where a central leafless flower stem emerges. Their leaves resemble broad straps that are often speckled, mottled brown, giving way to their ‘trout lily’ common name. Don’t panic when the leaves die back after flowering. Erythroniums are spring ephemeral, which means they produce foliage & flower in a short period of time, then they die back. Since they disappear after blooming, mark the planting location so you don’t dig them up by mistake or plant on top of them. It would be nice to grow Erythroniums in containers, however, like many bulbous it is not recommended. When grown in pots, their roots are not sufficiently insulated against winter’s cold and fluctuating temperatures. It’s best to grow them in the ground where the thermal heat of the earth helps to keep them warm. Common Species Erythronium albidum: white fawn & trout lily, tooth-lily, eastern USA & Ontario, white. E. americanum: yellow trout lily, adder’s tongue, dogtooth violet, eastern Canada & the USA. E. dens-canis: dog’s tooth violet, Southern & Central Europe E. revolutum, Coastal, Mahogany Fawn Lily, Pacific Northwest E. grandiflorum: dogtooth lily, glacier lily, yellow fawn lily, western Canada & western USA. E. californicum: California fawn lily E. helenae: Pacific fawn lily, California 
The pretty nodding flowers of a yellow trout lily, E. americanum.
Erythroniums spread undergound via cormels and runners.
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Blue and pink lungwort flowers, yellow tulips and cerise winter heather are suitable companions to erythroniums.
for the tropical Gardener
While working in Florida as a 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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