All the Dirt: Take Care of Droopy Annuals

By Jim Nunweiler Saturday, March 06, 2010

March is here, and it’s time to plant some color. Since we have experienced such a cold winter this year, pansies and violas planted in the fall can be looking a little shabby. Replacing the worst offenders will give you color to enjoy until you’re ready for summer annuals, which should be planted in mid-April.

Be sure to prune any snow-damaged limbs and broken branches on trees and shrubs. A clean cut at this time will help keep your plants free from diseases that can become active as the weather warms.

Dormant oil sprays can be used during this month. This is a special formula for pest control and has a minimal impact on the environment. When applying, just make sure the temperature will remain above freezing for at least 24 hours. Dormant oils are recommended for insect-damaged deciduous trees and shrubs from the previous year. Oil sprays target insect pests like scales, mealy bugs and mites that overwinter in the nooks and crannies of the bark. The dormant oil will suffocate the insects.

Now is the ideal time to prune your roses back before the buds begin to break. Cut back hybrid tea, floribunda and shrub roses approximately 18 inches from the ground. If you have climbing roses, they can be cut back one-third the total height. Also remove any dead or diseased limbs. If you want to add roses to your garden, this is the month to plant bare root material. Before planting bare root stock, it’s best to soak the roots in water for at least two hours.

As soon as the soil can be worked, you can start planting cool weather vegetable seeds such as lettuce, peas and radishes. Later in the month you can add broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower plants to the garden.

Now is a good time to remove any debris or matted grass from the lawn that has accumulated over the winter. You can also add lime at this time. It is best not to apply any type of fertilizer to your lawn until it’s been cut a few times. Usually late April is the time to fertilize.

If you dug Dahlia roots or Gladiola bulbs last fall for winter storage, they can be replanted in the garden later this month. If you see any signs of rot before they go into the ground, this can be controlled by dusting with sulfur. Sulfur can be found at most garden centers.

When in the garden, don’t forget about your house plants. As we gain daylight, it’s best to turn your houseplant pots 180 degrees each week so they don’t look one sided. Keep checking on their water requirements since more may be needed as they are actively growing again.