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Garden tips for March

by Jack McKinnon

March is truly and gratefully spring. Although many trees have been in bloom since January and bulbs have been up since December, March is the month when we can say spring is here. Summer bulbs to plant will be in these tips. Most people don't know much about these garden gems. Try as many as you can. My mission in my coaching business is to help people make their good gardens into great gardens.

1. Snail control this time of the year makes a big difference all summer long. Use whatever method you can ethically tolerate. Personally, I am still considering getting a trio of ducks. Not only do they eat snails, slugs, sowbugs and earwigs but fresh duck eggs make the best of omelets.

2. Watch for gophers; if you can catch them early as they enter your property you can prevent a lot of damage. There are several traps on the market and there are services that will guarantee results. The challenge is getting them early before they turn your yard into a gopher condominium.

3. Here is the summer bulb list. Dahlias, gladiola, freesia, crocosmia, tuberous begonia, crinum, zantedeschia, tuberose, amaryllis, canna, tigridia, babiana, liatris, ranuculus, spraxis, ixia, leucocoryne, tritonia, brodiaea, iris, convallaria, dicentra, peony, baby's breath (both pink and white) and hosta. Look them up in your garden book and make your plan.

4. Nurseries have a stunning selection of flowering bedding plants. I usually plant them closer together than is recommended in the books. This gives a more intense floral effect. If you look in any of the gardening magazines or in some of the great show gardens you will see this kind of intense planting. Make sure your soil is rich in compost, deeply dug and you fertilize regularly.

5. Fertilize regularly. I like to recommend Miracle Grow, which is sold in bulk as 15-30-15. I use the guideline: Use 15-30-15 on the 15th and the 30th of the month. For organics I use fish emulsion, manure tea, kelp and micronutrient products. Follow the instructions on the container for mixing and application, and follow all the safety rules. Wear gloves and goggles even when using organics.

6. This is the key month for a garden party. Invite your garden club to see your good work. Have a speaker come and talk about pruning or flower arranging. Tea is very popular as is a light lunch or supper. Have family time in the garden. A set of lawn chairs and a small table is all you need. Or simply have a picnic. What a novel idea.

7. Let your lawn grow a little longer in March. Set your mower higher or tell your gardener to raise it up a little. Later in the summer we will raise it even more to let the grass plants get their best growth. Change to a spring/summer fertilizer program now that turf is growing more vigorously.

8. Pull weeds before they get bigger than one inch. If you can keep them under control at this size you will be way ahead of the game and the weeds will not be able to deprive your good plants of water or nutrients.

9. Now is the time to plant citrus. You can put a lemon or lime in a box or planter or if you have a sunny place plant it in the ground. Be sure to use well-draining soil in containers or plenty of sand and compost in the ground. Fertilize citrus in late winter, June and August.

10. Take care to water enough. Shade plants need watering regularly as do lawns and full sun areas. Even drought-tolerant and desert plants do better with spritzing off on occasion. Check drip systems for good flow and replace if necessary.

Good gardening.

Jack McKinnon worked in the Sunset Magazine gardens for 12 years and is now a garden coach. He can be reached at (650) 879-3261 or by e-mail at jcmckinnon@southcoast.net