March Garden Tips

The weather is warming up and gardeners in Central Texas are getting excited to “get busy” in the garden. Although the weather is warming up, be prepared for a few more freezes to occur in early-to-mid - March. Cover anything tender with row cover. Attack those weeds by manually pulling them and consistently removing them when they occur. Apply mulch to suppress weeds. Start dreaming about the beautiful colors and textures you will be seeing in your garden soon.

THINGS TO PLANT

Flower Plants: Achillea (Yarrow), Ageratum*, Alyssum, Joseph’s Coat * (Amaranthus), Summer Forget-Me-Not (Anchusa), African Daisy (Arctotis), Alpine Aster, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias), Balloon Flower, Balsam *, Blue Daze *, Blue Cardinal Flower, Boltonia, Scarlet Bouvardia, Browallia *, Calliopsis, Candytuft, Chocolate Plant *, Chrysanthemum, Cigar Plant * (Cuphea ignea), Cleome *, Cockscomb*, Coleus*, Columbine, Copper Plant*, Coreopsis, Dahlia*, Dianthus, Daisy, Feverfew, Gaillardia, Geranium*, Gomphrena*, Hibiscus*, Hollyhock, Indian Blanket, Jacobinia*, Lamb’s Ear (Stachys), Lantana*, Liatris, Edging Lobelia, Mexican Heather, Nasturtium*, Nierembergia*, Penstemon, Penta, Petunia*, Phlox Drummondii, Plumbago*, Oriental Poppy, Salvia* (farinacea, greggii, leucantha, splendens), Sedum, Spiderwort, Stokes’ Aster, Sunflower*(Helianthus), Torenia (Wishbone Flower), Veronica. Flower Seeds: Ageratum, Balsam, Amethyst Flower (Browallia), Candytuft, Castor Bean, Cleome, Butterfly Pea, Cosmos, Dahlia, Echinacea, Feverfew, Impatiens, Moonflower (Ipomea alba), Cypress Vine, Gomphrena, Sunflower (Helianthus), Nasturtium, Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana), Pinks (Dianthus), Portulaca (Moss Rose), Sweet Sultan, Marigold, Tithonia, Torenia, Verbena.

Bulbs: Achimenes, Acidanthera, Allium, Alstroemeria, Amarcrinum, Amaryllis, Ground Orchid (Bletilla), Caladium, Calla, Canna, Crinum, Crocosmia, Dahlia, Daylily, Butterfly Iris (Dietes), Ginger, Gladiolus, Gloriosa Lily, Hosta, Spider Lily, Yellow Star Grass, Liriope, Monkey Grass, Rain Lily, Society Garlic, Tigridia, Tuberose.

Vegetables:

Early-mid Month: Beets, Collards, Turnip Mid-Late Months: Beans, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Peppers, Pumpkin, Squash, Tomatoes.

All Month: Lettuce, Mustard, Radish. Be prepared to protect plants from frosts and freezes. Give transplants a weekly boost the first month with a liquid plant food or “manure tea”.

Herbs: Anise, Star Anise, Basil*, Bay, Borage, Bouncing Bet, Caraway, Catnip, Chives, Comfrey, Costmary, Cumin, Fennel, Fenugreek, Scented Geranium*, Germander, Horehound, Horseradish, Lamb’s Ear, Lavender, Lemon Grass*, Lemon Verbena, Mexican Mint Marigold, Monarda, Oregano, Parsley, Perilla, Rosemary, Sage, Santolina, Summer Savory, Winter Savory, Sesame, Sorrel, Southernwood, Tansy, Tarragon, Thyme, Common Wormwood, Roman Wormwood, Yarrow.

Fruit: Container grown fruit and nut trees, vines and bushes. *Plant mid-month after danger of freezing has passed.

tasks in the garden:

Fertilize: Begin monthly feedings of hibiscus after pruning. Start a rose feeding schedule; spray and feed camillas. Begin fertilizing azaleas after they bloom. Fertilize established fruit and nut trees with 1 lb. 15-5-10 per inch of trunk diameter. Berry bushes should receive 1/3 cup per square yard of planting area.

Diseases/Pests to look for: Watch for aphids on new growth, spider mites on older leaves and cut worms on young transplants. Spray peach and plum trees for curculio weevils when ¾ of the petals have fallen (repeat three times at two-week intervals).

Prune: Prune hibiscus, also spring flowering shrubs and trees, after they bloom. Prune and train vines. Shape spring-blooming shrubs with light pruning after bloom. Allow bulb foliage to yellow and die before removing.