Maid To Garden

In The Garden Of Good Living - March 2009: Spring Has Sprung!
by Pat Hendrickson

Harbingers of spring include snow drops, crocus and early daffodils. March is another one of those months when the weather does not always cooperate but there is still plenty that should be done. The Maryland Cooperative Extension offers the following tips for the month of March.

Gardener's Tips

When the weather clears, you can start cleaning up the yard and garden beds. Trim branches and twigs that have been damaged by winter weather. Rake leaves and clean out those gutters.
Borrow or rent a chipper if you don’t have one and process sticks, twigs and small branches to add with leaves to your compost pile.
March is good time to get your soil tested. Purchase a commercial kit at your garden center or contact your local Cooperative Extension for advice.
Move or plant trees and shrubs, during the last two weeks. They are mostly dormant and the soil will be soft. Be sure to protect any new plantings from freezing temperatures as overnight frost is still probable through most of April.
Cut back roses and woody shrubs like butterfly bushes, but resist trimming those shrubs that bloom in the spring.
And, March is probably your last chance to get your birdhouses up if you want to be ready for nesting season.

Plant Recommendations
Get a list of native plants from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program: http://www.mdcoastalbays.org/plants

Visit the Maryland Cooperative Extension website for a comprehensive site with tips for gardening in our area:
http://www.hgic.umd.edu/

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