March Garden Action List Released
Gardening experts are urging immediate action on March priorities including pruning, soil prep, and planting for better spring blooms. Monty Don specifically recommends pruning roses and five other plants before month's end. A Mid-South Gardening podcast stressed applying pre-emergent herbicides now — 30 days before crabgrass germinates in late March, with Dimension-based products reapplied every 90 days.
Beyond roses, other shrubs that benefit from March pruning to encourage new growth and abundant flowers include Butterfly bush (Buddleia), blue mist shrub (Caryopteris), and dogwood (Cornus). When pruning roses, cuts should be made at a 45° angle just above an outward-pointing bud to guide new growth away from the center of the plant. Before amending garden beds, it's crucial to ensure the soil isn't too wet, as working saturated soil can damage its structure and cause compaction. A simple test involves squeezing a handful of soil into a ball; if it crumbles when tossed lightly in your palm, it's ready to be worked. Once ready, a top dressing of one to three inches of compost can replenish nutrients. Crabgrass seed germination is triggered by soil temperature, not a specific calendar date. The process begins once the soil temperature consistently holds at 55-57°F for several consecutive days. Light, sandy soils and areas near pavement warm up faster, meaning crabgrass may appear there first. The active ingredient in Dimension herbicide is Dithiopyr, which provides both pre-emergent and some early post-emergent control of crabgrass. This dual action creates a wider and more forgiving window for application compared to other pre-emergents. For the product to be effective, it must be watered in with about a half-inch of rain or irrigation. March is a critical time for planting both vegetables and flowers. Hardy vegetables like beets, carrots, peas, and spinach can be sown directly into the garden now. Tender crops, including tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, should be started indoors to be transplanted later. The fluctuating temperatures of early spring create an ideal environment for garden pests and diseases. Applying horticultural oils to fruit trees during their dormant season can help control overwintering insects like mites and aphids. Diligent weeding is also key, as weeds can serve as hosts for pests that later spread to garden plants. Deciduous ornamental grasses such as miscanthus should be cut back hard to the ground before new shoots get too long. However, evergreen grasses should not be cut back; instead, dead growth should be combed out by hand or with a rake.
