Following are some garden activities that may be appropriate in Central North Carolina during the month of
March
Trees & Shrubs
Finish planting trees and shrubs.
Woody plants grow roots when soils are cool. If you haven't planted yet, you missed the fall opportunity and the optimal late
winter opportunity is almost done.
Root growth will deminish as the soil warms through the spring. That means you will have a limited amount of new roots to retrieve
water during the stress of summer. If you really need to plant it now, just be aware that trees and shrubs will need more attention until next
fall. If you can wait, next fall will be better for the plants.
Prune.
If you need to renovate, overhaul, or otherwise do any major pruning, March is great!
If you are going to do major pruning, it likely will not look great when you are finished - lots of stem, little foliage.
You don't want to look at this embarrassing plant for long. The more you delay (up to the beginning of new growth) the less time
it looks really bad. Remember that pruning now will be a stimulus to growth. New growth will cover those stems. And with
fewer growing points you can expect the plant to be very large again soon. If the plant is too large for the space, pruning is a
short-term solution. Pruning in early summer after the spring growth flush may retard these plants slightly. Do not prune
winter or spring flowering plants such as
Camellia,
Daphne, or
Azalea until after they have finished blooming. And no, you do not have to prune anything now. Prune to improve the plant's health,
to enhance the shape or appearance, or to affect flower or fruit production. Don't prune just because it's the right time.
Annual & Perennial Flowers
Dig and divide or plant new
perennials
The soil is warming slowy now. It may still be cold enough and wet enough to
make your hands raw and chapped. But you won't even remember that by next summer when these things are blooming.
You can dig, divide, and plant most perennials on a warm afternoon. Try to avoid leaving them out all night unless they are in containers.
Even containers with roots above ground should be in a protected area.
Recovery is quicker if plants are well watered before planting. Water after planting to ensure good root-to-soil contact.
Watch as new growth begins, and water on an as-needed basis.
Cut back
Butterfly bush, Buddleja davidii
New growth on butterfly bush often makes a larger plant with fewer flowers unless it it pruned. Pruning back around the 6 to 18 inch range
forces new growth closer to the crown, a more compact plant, and usually better flower displays. These plants are probably
already putting on new growth now. That may affect how much you prune; just remember that by pruning you can determine where the new
growth will occur. Cut back
Ornamental grasses such as
Fountain grass, Pennisetum alepecuroides or
pink muhly, Muhlenbergia capillaris.
Routine Chores
Mulch can help to moderate soil temperatures as well as reduce moisture loss.
Mulch helps reduce cold injury to shallow roots. It allows the soil to cool gradually in the fall, moderates extreme cold temperatures,
allows warming gradually in spring, and moderates extremes of heat in summer. It also reduces moisture loss to evaporation.
And applying mulch is an activity that helps to warm up the gardener without getting your hands wet and dirty. And it helps to cover up the
small bits of debris left after cutting back perennials.
For the tenderest plants, such as roses or bananas, pile it up to make sure the crown of the plant is well protected.
(Remember to rake it back as new growth begins.)
Soil testing can be done at any time of year.
Boxes and forms are available at your
County Extension Office. This month is one of the busiest for the Agronomic Lab. Check their website for
Estimated Processing Time.
From now into spring the turnaround time will probably be several weeks. Get samples in as soon as possible for timely reports.
For quickest action get them directly to Raleigh yourself rather than leaving them at any local collection point where they may sit for days or weeks.
You can mail them to the address on the form or deliver them to
the lab in Raleigh. From the State Fairgrounds, go north on
Blue Ridge Road. When you see the Art Museum on the right, turn left on Reedy Creek. The lab is about 1/2 mile down
Reedy Creek Rd. on the right.
Things to Watch For
Watch for cool season
weeds
You've been warned since last fall to watch for weeds such as
henbit,
chickweed, and
hairy bittercress.
By this time of year, you may not have to watch for them any more; they may be growing up your legs. And some of them will have
obvious flowers. Once they begin to make flowers and seeds, selective post-emergent herbicides will be less effective.
That will leave all of us out there hand-weeding together. The good news is that for annual weeds, you don't need to concern yourself with
pulling the roots. Just getting the tops will be sufficient.
Be careful not to damage the roots of trees and shrubs with the hoe or the trunks and stems with trimmers.