Lawns:

• It will soon be time to crank up the lawn mower. Did you get the blade sharpened?
• Do not over-do the spring nitrogen application. Slow release nitrogen should be put out no later than the first week of March. Quick – release products such as 10-10-10 can be applied through the end of the month.
• Mid – March is a good time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide if crabgrass has been a problem.
• Remember, you can not use pre-emergent herbicide and plant grass seed in the same season.

• Winter weeds are thriving now. Get out there and pull the bittercress, henbit, chickweed and others before they throw off seeds.
• When purchasing bare root plants, unwrap the roots and soak them in water for up to 12 hours before planting, but no longer. Inspect the plants and cut off any broken roots or stems before planting.
• March is a good time to do severe pruning when overgrown shrubs need to be renovated.
• If tree branches have been broken by winter winds, make a clean cut at the branch collar for better healing. See http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts./hort/hil/pdf/hil-602.pdf
• Cut back liriope and ornamental grasses.
• Rejuvenate hanging baskets and use cuttings to start new baskets.
• Check house plants for insect infestations. Plants can be taken outside on a warm day for spraying, but bring them in before temperatures drop late in the day.
• Summer blooming shrubs and trees such as butterfly bush, rose-of-Sharon and crape myrtle can be pruned now.

• Plant all types of fruit crops.
• Prune fruit trees, grapes and brambles.
• The Extension office has video tapes on pruning grapes, blueberries and fruit trees that are available for loan.
• Fertilize all fruit crops.

• Let the planting begin! Turn over the soil for the early plantings as soon as the soil is not too wet to work without making clods.
• Plant English and edible-pod peas, onions, spinach, carrots, radishes and kale all month.
• Go ahead and seed some lettuces too. Keep some row cover fabric handy in case the seedlings need frost protection.
• Mid to late March set out potatoes and plants of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.
• Start transplants indoors for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants mid-month. They will need 6 to 8 weeks to be ready for the garden.
• Start shopping for seeds for the summer crops while the selection is good. Plant English and edible-pod peas, onions, and kale.

• It’s lovely to have a bouquet of daffodils in the house. If you want to mix daffodils with other cut flowers, though, take an extra step first. The sap from daffodil stems can clog the stems of other plants. The recommendation is to let the daffodils stand in water by themselves for at least 6 hours before placing them in with other flowers.

(Image provided by the NC Arboretum.)

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