(Chelsea Update would like to thank Jennifer Fairfield, owner of the Garden Mill, for the information in this column. Part 2 will run tomorrow.)
That recent taste of spring really got me longing to get gardening.
And I was seeing some signs of spring even before that – my daffodils were starting to stick their heads up, right before the snow covered them up. No fear, though. They’ll be back poking their heads up again soon.
The daffodil is, after all, the “official” flower of March. And I have hope that this spring is going to be a much better one than last year’s. We never really seemed to get spring last year, which made getting my garden going a bit of a challenge. I think the groundhog got it right this year though, and we’re going to have an early spring. One can always hope.
We’ll be ushering in spring at the Garden Mill every Saturday this month with our annual Green Thumb Series of workshops. Join us for some fun topics with lots of tips for growing things in your garden – and cooking with some of them. Details are below, on our website, and on our Facebook page.
There are all kinds of things you can and should be doing for your garden and yard in March, both inside and out.
Take a walk outdoors:
Take a walk around your yard and look for damage done to trees and shrubs by the weather. The high winds the week before, and the heavy, wet snow we had last week had the potential to wreak havoc. Prune off any damage you find.
March is a transition month, where the weather is concerned. The snow we tend to get at this time is generally the wet, heavy stuff we saw last week, because the temperatures are often hovering right around the freezing mark.
Keep in mind – heavy snow can weigh down and potentially break branches. And though it’s best to promptly remove snow to help prevent damage, it’s easy to do more harm than good, if you’re not careful.
Use a broom, and gentle upward motions to sweep away the snow. Banging on frozen branches to shake off snow can break them. If we get ice, the best thing to do is nothing, as trying to remove ice from your trees can often cause more harm than good.
Most other pruning of trees and shrubs should be done no later than mid-month, while they are still dormant, since pruning later can make them vulnerable to insects and disease that are active in warm weather. There are some trees and shrubs that will do better being pruned later in the year, mostly those that flower early (such as forsythia and lilacs), but everything else should be done while it’s still below freezing most days.
While you’re pruning your trees and shrubs, why not bring spring indoors early by forcing branches of forsythia, pussy willow, quince, spirea, and other flowering shrubs and trees.
On a warmer day (just because it’s nicer to be out when it’s warm) check perennials to make sure they have not been pushed out of the ground by frost heave. If they have, gently press them back down to prevent damage to the roots and plant. Follow up with a good layer of mulch to protect from future thaw and re-freeze cycles that are bound to happen this month.
Stay off the lawn and out of garden beds as much as possible while the ground is wet. Wet soil is easily compacted by walking on it at this time, and compacted soil is very difficult for anything to grow in.
Doing a soil test later this month can help you know what your plants or grass need before you start adding fertilizers. We carry a very good at-home test kit at the store, or you can send away for a more comprehensive test kit from the MSU extension.
Plant peas on St. Patrick’s Day?
There’s tradition that says St. Patrick’s Day is the time to plant peas, but I have yet to see a Michigan Saint Patty’s Day that is warm enough for that. Maybe by the end of the month, though.
