March is time to get garden ready

The approach of spring means gardeners need to get their beds ready, but the fickle weather of March means they should proceed with caution, says Van E. Banks, Yell County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

For shrubs and trees, it is still possible to use dormant sprays on fruit trees. Banks suggests diluting the spray by half and spray during the day, when temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit

"If you see buds breaking dormancy, hold off with the dormant sprays and use another option," he says.

March and early April is a good time to transplant or prune shrubs and trees, if buds haven't swelled or broken open.

Shrubs and trees should be fertilized, if this wasn't done in February. Use an acidic fertilizer to feed evergreens, conifers, broadleaf evergreens, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. An all-purpose fertilizer can be used to feed roses, deciduous trees and shrubs.

Divide and transplant summer blooming perennials and fertilize established ones as soon as new growth appears, Banks says.

"Severe pruning of roses results in nicer long-stemmed flowers and more compact bushes," he says. "You should also begin to feed roses and spray roses for blackspot."

Winter jasmine can be pruned after flowering. When pruning honeysuckle, cut the plant back to 3 feet.

You should begin to plant summer-blooming annuals and summer vegetables, such as tomatoes and lettuce, indoors. Seedlings started in February can be transplanted into peat pots.

Now is a good time to plant primroses and pansies, and it's safe to plant tender bulbs and tubers such as gladiola, lilies and dahlias now.

"You can continue planting additional bulbs every two weeks until mid June to ensure a continuous source of bloom," Banks says.

Take a little time to prepare the vegetable garden soil for planting. The addition of well-rotted manure or compost is good additive for building compost humus in the soil.

Peas and sweet peas may be planted right now as well as perennial vegetables such as asparagus, rhubarb, horseradish and artichokes. Add some cattle manure around your rhubarb.

You can also plant strawberries, blueberries, currants, loganberries, boysenberries, grapes and fruit trees.

Be sure to keep an eye out for aphids and cutworms, Banks says.

For more information on gardening and horticulture, contact your county extension agent or visit www.uaex.edu and select Home & Garden. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.

3/31/08
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Date: 3/24/08

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