March To Do

Mow lawn to help eliminate weeds. Fill bare patches with St. Augustine sod. Apply lawn food after three mowings. At this time the grass will be actively growing and it is a good time to apply Micro Life or other lawn fertilizer

Prune or plant roses. Now is the time to begin applying rose food on a monthly basis. Use Rose Glo, an organic fertilizer we keep in stock.

Plant tomatoes by the middle of the month for a spring harvest. Plant peppers, okra, cucumbers, eggplant, climbing spinach and more for diversity. Use Cottonseed Meal or a liquid organic fertilizer like John’s Recipe by Ladybug for an abundant and healthy harvest.

Start seeds or set out plants for spring flowers and Herbs. Plant now and get established before heat sets in. Good herbs to plant include basil, dill, chives, cilantro, fennel, oregano, mint, parsley, and more. (Come on in and see our wide selection). Use a dilute solution of John’s Recipe to improve vigor.

Plant fruit trees, shade trees, and ornamental trees. Be sure to apply mulch around the root zone to keep moist and avoid weeds. Make sure trees are watered regularly during first few years of growth, while tree is getting established. Add mycrorhizae to planting hole to also aid establishment of the tree. Use Super Thrive or Root Stimulator every few weeks for the first three months after planting.

Plant shrubs such as roses and azaleas. Use Super Thrive or Root Stimulator every two weeks for the first few months after planting. Don’t fertilize roses until they are established – use Bone Meal when planting.

Feed Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Plumeria, with Nutri Star. This will help plants to put out new lush growth and plenty of blooms.

Prune trees and shrubs while dormant. If you need assistance with the proper way to prune your crepe myrtles, let us know~!!! Don’t butcher the poor things. Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as azaleas, spireas, and redbuds after they’ve bloomed. Feed with Nutri Star, once after they bloom and then again in June.

Apply dormant oil to smother insects before they become a problem. Apply to hollies, magnolias, and camellias for scale. Release Lady Bugs to control insects like aphids and whitefly.

In mid-March, move houseplants outside into shade and repot if necessary. Feed with Nutri Star or a liquid organic fertilizer like John’s Recipe by Ladybug.

Plant color annuals such as marigolds, fuchsias, petunias, osteospermum, perilla, lobelia, bachelor buttons, coleus, forget-me-nots, dusty millers, annual phlox, geraniums, impatiens, begonias and more!

Plant Sun Perennials such as the shasta daisy, rudbeckia, gaillardia, verbena, coreopsis, lantana, perennial salvias, bee balm, porterweed, mist flower, jatropha, skullcap and many more!

Plant colorful Shade Perennials like firespike, shrimp plant, Persian shield, leopard plant, cat whiskers, ruellias, turk’s cap, sweet potato vine, Louisiana phlox, creeping jenny, and many more!

Spread a fresh layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and beds to protect roots , retain moisture, and prevent weeds.

Use Soil Soup, an organic compost tea, on all your plants, including your lawn. For poor or heavy clay soil, use one gallon every two weeks. Improving your soil will improve the health of your plants from the roots up, promoting lush growth and helping avoid problems later.

Clean birdbaths and feeders. Keep feeders full!! Birds are hungry.

Put out hummingbird feeders. We are expecting our first sighting any day now! To keep birds at your feeder, maintain a fresh nectar supply, and empty and wash the feeder each time you refill. Hummingbirds remember where they find a reliable food source –so if your yard is one of them, they’ll often return year after year.