In March we can’t be sure if it’s going to snow or rain but there are garden tasks to do.  Snow has buried any sprouts peeking up from the ground but the good news is that the snow means more water availability come spring.  As the days get longer there are indoor and outdoor garden preparations we can be doing now, including planting, pruning, and feeding!

If you haven’t yet pruned your fruit trees (apples, pears, cherries, etc.) use a mild day to get that pruning done before the trees break dormancy and buds swell.  Basic pruning is the removal of dead, diseased, and downward growing limbs.  Also cut off vertical “suckers” growing up from branches and trunks.  UVM Extension has helpful videos online to show the basics of good pruning practices. I’ll cover specific pruning of woody bushes (raspberries, blackberries, hydrangeas, etc.) in the April edition.  After pruning, give fruit trees a first spray of Dormant Oil to smother any over-wintering eggs left by last year’s pests.

Longer days trigger early growth on indoor plants so now is a good time to prune and feed them.  If you have geraniums, fuchsia, peppers, or other outdoor plants give them a serious pruning.  Remove any lanky, too long branches and re-shape the plant before they grow out too much.  Re-potting into larger containers with a fresh soil-less starter/compost mixture (not “potting soil”!) is often helpful.  Root pruning to match top pruning is recommended. An early feeding with fish emulsion or other good soluble plant food will stimulate growth.  Give them your best southern exposure for sunlight or artificial lights.

Inspect your indoor or houseplants closely for tiny pests like aphids, spider mites, or white flies.  They should be treated promptly and repeatedly with insecticidal soap or neem oil, or both.  Both are organic and can be applied every week or two safely. Scale (common on orchids) can be removed by wiping their leaves off with a rubbing alcohol swab.

In early March you can plant onion seeds (I like Ailsa Craig) along with Wave Petunias.  Refer to last month’s article for details about seed starting.  These plants are slow to start and require a long head start before transplanting out in late May so now is the time to sow them.  Onion seedlings produce better & bigger onions and are much less expensive than sets (small bulbs grown from seeds last season) and come in better varieties than sets.  You can also buy young onion seedlings ready to plant from many seed companies and garden stores later in the season but they are pricey.  Most other seeds (vegetables & flowers) should wait until early April before starting.  More on this in a future article.

Commit to home Composting now as it’s one of the most beneficial jobs every gardener can do.  It’s great for your soil and plants, keeps climate warming carbon out of the atmosphere, and avoids expensive hauling.