Monday, March 16, 2015

March Gardening Tips for Zone 5



We're here! The snow is melting, the sun is shining and you've come out of hibernation. You keep staring at the packets of seeds, ready to get outside and plant. Since it's a bit too early yet, here's a list of what to do in the mean time;

  • Seed Starting
    • To make the most of the growing season, start seeds indoors. Seeds should be started roughly eight weeks before the last frost date, making it early to mid-March for Michigan.
  • Tall Ornamental Grass
    • Tie up and cut off ornamental grasses, leaving the stems roughly three to four inches tall.
  • Remove Winter Mulch
    • If you have any winter mulch protecting your plants and soil, now is the time to move it. 
  • Garden Design
    • Thinking about redesigning the landscape this year? If so, March is a great time to make a plan.
  • Prune Trees & Shrubs
    • Scraggly trees and shrubs should be pruned in late winter or early spring, before any new growth is showing.  Here are a few tips on how to prune trees and shrubs.
  • Planting New Trees
    • New trees should be planted early in spring, before mid-May if possible. This month, figure out what trees will be added to your landscape. This way, you'll be ready for for Arbor Day (April 24th) sales at your local nursery.
  • Compost
    • How's the compost pile? Get ready to spread all of that nutrient-rich compost onto your garden. This can be done as soon as the ground thaws and has been tilled.
  • Equipment Maintenance
    • Do the blades on your lawn mower need to be sharpened? Is there string left in your weed wacker? Make any repairs that need to be done before the upcoming summer season.  

To check your plant hardiness zone, visit this USDA interactive map.

Do you have any tips, tricks or things to remember? What's on your to-do list? 

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