For the warm weather

March is the warm-up month for gardening. As the mercury climbs, so does our desire to get outside and plant something! While we’re waiting for the thermometer to rise, there are quite a few things we can do around the yard and garden. Here are a few.

March is a good time to divide (and conquer) overgrown areas of English Ivy, liriope and Monkey Grass. Dig up clumps with a shovel or spade, divide them into small sections, and replant them 12 to 18 inches apart. They will be back in full swing before you know it.

March is also a great time to plant a tree! Remember, when planting, it is very important to dig a very large hole (at least three times the diameter of the container and as deep), break up any clods in the newly dug hole, and then to loosen and extend the roots of the tree. It is generally not necessary to add organic matter to the planting hole. Water the new transplant well for at least a couple of weeks until it can begin to grow some new roots of its own.

Established trees will probably begin to leaf out this month. When they do, fertilize them with a complete granular product such as 16-4-8 or 12-4-8. You can also use 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 with good results. Calculate the square footage of the area under the canopy of the tree and apply about ¾ pound of fertilizer for each 100 square feet of canopy spread. Reduce this rate by half when fertilizing conifers such as pines, junipers, and the like.

Spread the fertilizer evenly across the area underneath the tree as far as the drip line and a little beyond. Water in thoroughly, especially if the new tree is located in the lawn. The blades of grass will benefit from being washed off.

Shrubs will also benefit from a good feeding this month. When fertilizing them, use a balanced granular product such as for trees. As a rule, apply one tablespoon of 10-10-10 or similar fertilizer per foot of shrub height.

For lawns, avoid fertilizing warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia, centipede) this month. Wait until April or after complete green-up has occurred. Also, refrain from dethatching and aerating until the grass has begun to grow vigorously.

Evergreen shrubs such as boxwoods and hollies can be renovated now if they have become overgrown and unattractive. Pruning now will give the resulting new growth plenty of time to harden off before the heat of mid-summer.

To accomplish this, cut back the shrub severely to a height of 12 inches if it has leaves only at the tips of its branches or has become lanky and unkempt in appearance. A little thinning is in order too. With a set of hand pruners, reach down into the canopy and remove select stems down to the point where a branch forks. This will open up the canopy of the plant, allowing light to get in, which will stimulate new growth. A fuller, healthier, more compact plant will be the result!

Next week: more March garden chores.

Tim Lewis is a Georgia Green Industry Association Certified Plant Professional, gardening writer, former Perry High School horticulture instructor, and former horticulturist at Henderson Village and Houston Springs. He and his wife, Susan, own and operate Lewis Farms Nursery located on Hwy 26 two miles east of Elko, where he was born and raised. He can be reached at 954-1507, timlewis1@windstream.net, and at LewisFarmsNursery.com.

HHJ News