Spring is coming, and next to fall, early spring is the best time to plant. The cool weather is great for gardening, and the rainy season is almost over. Although December was wet, we didn’t get much rain in January and February. So if you haven’t already, it’s probably time to start watering.
Here are some March gardening tips to keep your yard healthy and happy.
Time for Planting
Azaleas and camellias are in flower and dormant now. This is the time to plant them. Make sure you add organic material and a soil acidifier to the soil where you are planting them. My azaleas do best in large pots.
In the vegetable garden, you can still plant cool-season vegetables that will mature before the weather gets hot. Some of your options are beets, carrots, chard, green onions, lettuce, peas and potatoes. Once the danger of frost is past and the soil starts to warm, you can also start planting warm-season vegetables like snap beans, cantaloupes, corn, cucumbers, peppers, squash and tomatoes.
You’ll find nurseries now stocked with blooming perennials. This is a great time to plant them and add color to your garden.
Fertilize
Many of the plants and trees that are showing new growth now will benefit from fertilizer. Use fertilizer high in nitrogen on fruit trees. You can make the first of three feedings now and apply the next two feedings in six-week increments.
New and established plants also need fertilizing now. Succulents that are showing new growth need a diluted fertilizer. But wait to feed azaleas and camellias until they are done blooming. If native plants and other drought-tolerant plants are starting to go dormant, you should wait to feed those also.
Control Pests
Spring’s warmer weather and the new growth on plants invites pests to your garden. Check trees, roses and other plants for aphids, spider mites and whiteflies. Use a strong spray from your hose or insecticidal soap to remove them. Sticky, yellow cards will also work for whiteflies. You can find these at nurseries.
A lot of information for March Gardening Tips 2020 comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.