March is a wake up month. Wherever you look plant life begins to stir, as we don our gardening clothes eager to participate in this great and exciting adventure.
First of the activities, if you were neglectful last Fall, is that of cleaning up the garden of brush, paper, unwanted leaves and other refuse. Enclosed gardens, especially those in residential areas, tend to cage paper and rubbish blown in from the streets during the Winter.
Sow annual seeds in the greenhouse or sunny window for early bloom. Asters, calendulas, petunias, marigolds, zinnias and others may be started. Cosmos, cornflowers, poppies, nicotiana and other hardy kinds may be sown directly in the garden.
Top dress the grass and lawn with a complete fertilizer as soon as it is free from snow, and roll it when dry enough in order to settle the turf after the Winter's heaving and thawing.
Prune climbing roses before the buds begin to break. Cut away dead, weak and diseased wood from climber types such as Paul's Scarlet. In handling rambler kinds, like the well-known Dorothy Perkins, sever all canes that have flowered to the ground, leaving only those produced last season to respond with bloom.
Fruit trees of all kinds may be planted. Even if your garden is small and your gardening time limited, you should consider a few of the dwarf trees. There are also new, hardy forms of peaches, plums and apricots, grapes too, which should not pass unnoticed.
Check your dahlias to see that they have not dried out too much, and prepare them, along with glads, montbretias, tuberoses and other bulbs for Spring planting. Tuberous begonias and cannas are best given an early start indoors. While indoors don't forget to give your
Hoya a bath and to clean all the collected dust off the leaves.
Sometime during the month, your garden will be bright with crocus, snowdrops, scillas, winter-aconite and dwarf iris. Look around in other gardens for other appealing varieties of these which you can add to your collection.
When the soil is workable and it does not stick to the tools, sow seeds of radishes, peas, carrots, parsnips and beets.
Thin raspberries and blackberries by removing old canes. Tie the others to supports, and top back those that are too long.
In many parts of the country, Winter does not let go during this month, so continue to feed the birds. Moreover, clean out old birdhouses, make or purchase new ones and set them up to encourage the birds to nest on your grounds. They will make big indentations in the insect populations of your property.
Seeds of tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and other tender, slow-maturing vegetables, should be started in the coldframe or greenhouse. Plant in the garden only after warm weather has arrived.
Remember to resume your garden notebook. Keeping records is fun as well as practical.
