Dan's Papers - March 7, 2008 - The Garden At Rock Cottage by Lance Brilliantine

Signs of spring are already visible in the northeast. As I look into the garden with its increasing light, buds are now swelling, many bulbs have surfaced, and while winter is still here, this has not been an overly frigid year to date. The sun's renewed warmth is already evident on some days. Gardeners are having that indefatigable drive to get their hands dirty and get outdoors.

With its unpredictable weather, March is a perfect time for garden cleanup. Here are suggestions on things to do during March when there are breaks in the weather.

Remove and discard leaves, plant debris and remaining dead annuals from last year. While some may think it is too early to remove winter coverings, removal actually helps the soil to warm, promotes bulb photosynthesis, and eliminates potential diseases. (Removing dead leaves also removes a high percentage of deer tick larvae before they emerge.) Use a high-quality rake, gardener's claw, or a gloved hand to perform this task. Lawns also benefit from a good raking to remove debris and thatch, and to lift turf. However, if the ground is wet, avoid walking on lawns because of the potential to compact soil. Use gloved hands to remove debris around emerging bulbs to prevent the scarring and shredding of delicate growth.

Now is a good time to cut back ornamental grasses. Be sure to wear gloves as you trim grasses (dried grass blades are sharp). If the grasses are isolated and far away from inflammables, you can burn off the old foliage. If not, tie heavy string around the middle of the old foliage and cut stalks off below the string with a saw or heavy-duty shears. This approach pre-bundles the stalks for easy removal.

Once debris is gone, inspect flowerbeds to be sure that plants uprooted by frost have not been dislodged or discarded. Any such plants need to be pushed down into the soil.

On the few days when soil can be worked, use a pitchfork to turn over the soil in flowerbeds. Be careful not to uproot perennials during the process. Covering turned soil with a thick coating of peat moss helps to aerate and improve soil quality. Two weeks later, douse the area with a tonic made from ten cups of cow manure and two cups of liquid ammonia in a 5-gallon bucket. Fill the bucket with water. Cover the bucket and permit the mixture to ferment for two weeks. Use liberally around perennials, shrubs and other plants to impart renewed vigor as the season gets going.

Now is a good time to check roses to ensure they are still covered with mounds of soil or mulch. Roses do best if they remain covered until mid- to late-April when leaves appear because they are susceptible to early spring damage from frost. Perform final rose pruning at the end of March by removing dead stalks and trimming other stalks back to outward-facing buds. Be sure to prune stalks at a 45-degree angle to permit water runoff.

Fruit trees also benefit from early spring maintenance. Prune out dead branches and water spouts, and cut back tree crowns to encourage air circulation. Prune away touching branches that foster bruises and disease. For trees that suffered any type of blight or fungus last season, spray them now with Bordeaux mixture, an alternate to copper fungicide, or Daconil, before buds emerge.

Because weeds get started early, March is an excellent time to inspect flowerbeds for signs of last year's monster weeds. If you spot weeds, now is a great time to pull out roots with ease. You can also use a hoe to remove many weeds seeking a foothold. When removing weeds, be sure to discard these at a recycling dump or through garbage pickup. Placing spent weeds on compost heaps only seems to promote even more weeds the next year.

Performing gardening chores in March is a great way to wake up the gardening spirit and also to save a chunk of time later on in the spring. Undertaking these chores now provides a great opportunity to commiserate with nature, and to feel a sense of accomplishment, all without the pressure of "having to get it done."

You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.