March Weather Statistics
Average
daily high: 61 degrees
Average daily low: 38 degrees
Average rainfall: 4.07 inches
• Prune butterfly bushes to within one or two feet of the
ground. Also, it is now safe to cut back hardy lantana,
salvias and other hollow-stemmed perennials.
• Begin your rose spray program as soon as first leaves
appear or plant one of the tough shrub roses that require
little, if any, spraying. Arbor Gate Teaching Garden at the
Cooperative Extension has some fine examples of these
low-maintenance beauties.
• Preventing crabgrass in fescue lawns is easy if the turf
is dense and mowed no shorter than three and a half inches.
Crabgrass seeds require light to germinate. Apply
pre-emergence crabgrass control to exposed areas, such as
next to driveways and sidewalks before the middle of the
month. Reapply around the first of May.
• Fertilize pecan trees at the rate of four pounds of
10-10-10 per inch in diameter of trunk. Spread the
fertilizer under the limbs of the tree to the full extent
of the drip line.
• Spray dormant oil on peaches and other fruit trees for
control of insects and mites.
• Sow seeds of beets, lettuce, peas and turnips. Plant
cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, head lettuce and onions.
• Prune evergreen shrubs such as hollies and boxwoods now.
For the best result, prune back the longest twigs to a
joint. This will maintain a more natural look and growth
habit than shearing. Leave the azaleas alone until after
they bloom!
• Remove old mulch from flower beds and replace with fresh
material. Do not exceed four inches in depth and keep the
mulch away from the stems of the plants.
• Remove spent flowers from spring-flowering bulbs, but
leave the foliage to replenish the bulb for next spring.
Don’t braid, tie or otherwise damage the leaves but allow
them to die down naturally. Planting other annuals and
perennials among the bulbs will help disguise unsightly
foliage.
• As new leaves of roses and other plants emerge, expect to
see hordes of tiny insects known as “plant lice.” Aphids
have sucking mouth parts that pierce the leaf tissue and
may cause unsightly, though not usually life-threatening,
damage. Aphids may be removed from plants by spraying with
a sharp stream of water. Insecticidal soap will kill them
on contact. Repeat applications may be necessary. Always
read and follow the label instructions.
• Apply pre-emergence crabgrass preventer to your lawn
before March 15. Keep in mind that most crabgrass
preventers should not be used on recently-seeded or
over-seeded lawns. Read the label carefully before
application.
•Prune butterfly bushes to about 18 inches. Hardy lantana
and salvias may be pruned now, too. Cut old growth of these
plants close to the ground.
•Finish pruning roses early this month. Reduce hybrid tea
roses to 24 inches, prune to an outside bud and remove dead
wood. Begin your rose spray program as soon as first leaves
appear. Alternatively, plant some of the tough shrub roses
that require little, if any, spraying.
•Fertilize pecan trees at the rate of four pounds of
10-10-10 per inch in diameter of trunk. Spread the
fertilizer under the limbs of the tree to the full extent
of the drip line.
•Sow seeds of beets, lettuce, peas and turnips. Plant
cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, head lettuce and onions.
•If your cool-season vegetable garden usually succumbs to
unseasonable heat, try gardening in containers. Pots can
easily be moved to a more sheltered spot if unusual heat –
or cold – threatens. To be sure container soil stays evenly
moist, use a moisture-retentive medium and check
frequently.
•Prune evergreen shrubs now. For the best result, cut back
the longest twigs to a joint. This will maintain a more
natural look and growth habit than shearing. Encourage old
boxwoods to put on new interior leaves by thinning to allow
sunlight to reach the center of the shrub.
•Cut back old foliage of liriope, pampas and other
ornamental grasses as close as possible to the ground
without damaging new growth tips.
•Remove spent flowers from spring bulbs but leave the
foliage to replenish the bulb for next year. Don’t braid or
otherwise damage the leaves, but allow them to die down
naturally. Planting other annuals and perennials among the
bulbs will help disguise unsightly foliage.
•As new leaves of roses and other plants emerge, expect an
infestation of aphids. These tiny insects have sucking
mouth parts that pierce the leaf tissue and may cause
unsightly, though not usually life-threatening, damage. A
sharp stream from the garden hose should dispatch these
critters without pesticide concerns.
• Remove tops of liriope, pampas grass and all ornamental
grasses as close as possible to the ground.
• Cut iris back to within 4 inches of the ground, butterfly
bushes within 2 feet.
• Apply pre-emergent crabgrass preventers to lawns by the
15th.
• Begin mowing your tall fescue lawns at a height of 3
inches. About 1 inch of water per week is needed to prevent
drought stress.
• Reduce hybrid tea rose plants to within 24 inches of
ground, prune to outside bud and remove dead wood. Plant
bareroot roses now and containerized as they become
available. Begin spray program before bud break and
continue throughout the growing season.
• Sow seeds of beets, lettuce, garden peas and turnips.
Plant cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. Finish planting
asparagus, peas, onions and head lettuce by mid month.
• Fertilize pecans, 4 pounds of 10-10-10 per inch in
diameter of trunk on bearing trees under limbs.
• Spray dormant oil on peaches and other fruit trees for
control of insects and mites.
• Divide and transplant ajuga, daisy, daylilles, liriope
and oxalis.
• Remulch all flower and shrub beds with fresh mulch. Do
not exceed 4 inches in depth.
