March To Do

Mow lawn to help eliminate weeds. Keep weeds cut back to prevent flowering and re-seeding. Fill bare patches with St. Augustine sod. Apply lawn food or lawn fertilizer.

Prune or plant roses. Now is the time to begin applying rose food on a monthly basis.

Plant tomatoes by the middle of the month for a spring harvest. Plant peppers, okra, cucumbers, eggplant, climbing spinach and more. Use Cottonseed Meal or a liquid organic fertilizer for an abundant and healthy harvest.

Start seeds or set out plants for spring flowers and herbs. Plant now and get established before heat sets in. Good herbs to plant include basil, dill, chives, cilantro, fennel, oregano, mint and parsley.

Plant fruit trees, shade trees, and ornamental trees. Be sure to apply mulch around the root zone to keep moist and avoid weeds. Make sure trees are watered regularly during first few years of growth, while tree is getting established. Add mycrorhizae to planting hole to also aid establishment of the tree. Use Root Stimulator every few weeks for the first three months after planting.

Plant shrubs such as roses and azaleas. Use Root Stimulator every two weeks for the first few months after planting.

Feed Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Plumeria. This will help plants to put out new lush growth and plenty of blooms.

Prune trees and shrubs while dormant.  Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as azaleas, spireas, and redbuds after they’ve bloomed. Feed  once after they bloom and then again in June.

Apply dormant oil to smother insects before they become a problem. Apply to hollies, magnolias, and camellias for scale. Release Lady Bugs to control insects like aphids and whitefly.

Plant color annuals such as marigolds, fuchsias, petunias, osteospermum, perilla, bachelor buttons, coleus, forget-me-nots, dusty millers, annual phlox, geraniums, impatiens, begonias and more!

Plant Sun Perennials Shasta daisy, rudbeckia, gaillardia, verbena, coreopsis, lantana, perennial salvias, bee balm, porterweed, mist flower, jatropha,zenias skullcap as examples.

Plant colorful Shade Perennials like firespike, shrimp plant, Persian shield, leopard plant, cat whiskers, ruellias, turk’s cap, sweet potato vine, creeping jenny, and many more!

Spread a fresh layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and beds to protect roots, retain moisture, and prevent weeds.

 Clean birdbaths and feeders. Keep feeders full!! Birds are hungry.