March means garden season!!! I don’t know about you, but my family is ready to start working outside again as soon as there’s the slightest inclination that spring is on the way.
Well, let’s be real, my husband has been working outside this entire winter. My daughters and I only go out when we must if its anything less than 50°. During the winter, my husband is the backbone of this entire farmstead, but spring is our time to shine! Especially in the garden.
Here is a list of things I have planned for March in my Missouri Garden:
Check on overwintered plants or perennials.
First things first, take a walk. Go enjoy the fresh air and go fan girl over whatever is brave enough to start sprouting.
The only perennial I have in my garden right now is oregano. But that doesn’t stop me from going to check on it and getting excited about the fact that it’s coming back. I also walk along our road to see the wild daffodils and smell/pick as needed for my mental boost. You know, getting all that seasonal depression out.
I plant garlic in the fall, and it should start sprouting in the spring. Sometimes it sprouts early, and I like to make sure it still has a nice layer of straw over it to protect the new sprouts from frost. Another thing to do when it sprouts is start fertilizing it. Bone meal is great for this. Apply it every 3-4 weeks. Research any plants you have sprouting and fertilize if needed.
If you have any shrubs or trees that need pruned do that now. Be sure to look up proper pruning times and techniques for your specific plants.
Finalize your garden layout and put it together.
By now you should already have a good idea of what you will be planting this year. Especially if you are starting any plants from seed. It’s time to finalize where all those plants are going to go. If you need any trellises or certain set ups for anything, now is the time you want to be working on it. Put together any raised beds you may have acquired after last gardening season. These are my favorite, I bought 6 this winter! Also, make any needed repairs to last year’s garden fixtures. You don’t want to be stuck with mature plants that can’t be planted, because your beds aren’t made, or your supports aren’t ready.
Unless you are ready to direct sow any seeds, I would not start cleaning beds at this time. Leave any leaves or dead material for now. A good rule of thumb is to wait until temperatures are consistently about 50 degrees F. (10 C.). This will help protect pollinator habitat in the spring and ensure you have a robust and healthy pollinator population and overall garden ecosystem.
Finish any small garden projects.
This goes hand in hand with repairs to raised beds and trellis work, but if you have any smaller, one- or two-day projects just hanging around half finished, or anything that you wanted to start but haven’t got to yet. Take advantage of the nice spring weather and finish them now. Earlier this month we built a 3-bin compost system. While we likely won’t get to use compost from it this year, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time now, and I won’t have to worry about it in the heat of summer or during prime planting and harvest season. And it’s such a relief to have it finished.
Start seeds.
This is one of the easier tasks, that unless you have a greenhouse, you’ll be doing inside. Depending on your last predicted frost date, and what you’re planting, you may have already started some seeds. If you haven’t yet, then March is typically the time to start. I go by a frost date of May 15th. I have already planted onions (in January). My March seeds are Peppers, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Broccoli, Spinach and a variety of flowers.
You may even be able to sow some seeds directly in the garden. I am planting Potatoes, Carrots, and Beets this month! Whatever you are growing this year, be sure to keep an eye on the planting or sowing dates because they will come quickly, and you don’t want to miss them.
Thats it for March garden tasks!!
Enjoy this beautiful spring we are having this year!
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