Gardening Tips for March 2006
by Thea Fiskin, UC Master Gardener

Fickle is the word to describe March weather. Mother Nature teases us with warm sunny days, then shifts to cool, blustery days overnight. Be warned: frost is not uncommon in the first two weeks, either. Still, I am getting anxious for the arrival of spring!

What to plant
March is one of the best months to plant trees, shrubs, vegetables, vines and summer color in our area because roots have time to establish before the hot days of summer arrive.

Annuals - Try alyssum, begonias, marigolds, nasturtiums, petunias, and salvias in those tired flower beds. You can seed bachelor's button, cosmos, impatiens, and portulacas.

Bulbs - Summer blooming bulbs are often overlooked, but consider cannas, caladium, calla lily, crocosmia, dahlia, gladiolus, ranunculus, tuberose and zephyranthes.

Citrus - All citrus can be planted starting the last half of the month. Grapefruit, kumquats, lemons, limes, oranges, mandarins, pummelos, and tangelos all do well in Tulare County.

Herbs - Plant chives, dill, French tarragon, oregano, lavender, mint, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Wait until next month (after the weather warms up a little) before planting basil.

Houseplants - With longer and brighter days its time to fertilize, use a diluted solution of soluble houseplant food. I also like to add a little time release fertilizer for good measure. Pinch growing tips to promote thick, bushy growth.

Lawns - Seed or sod cool season lawns such as fescue and fertilize established fescue lawns. Wait until April to fertilize bermudagrass and May (or until the weather is nice and warm) before seeding bermuda lawns.
Perennials - Try artemisia, brachycome, butterfly bush, coneflower, coral-bells, coreopsis, diascia, dianthus, liatris, ornamental sweet potato, phlox, salvia and yarrow just to name a few favorites.

Veggies - You can plant beans, beets, lettuce, peas, potatoes and radishes directly in the garden. Plant from seed, either inside or in a protected area, bell pepper, cucumber, eggplant, melon, squash, and tomatoes

Critter Control - Consider growing plants that encourage beneficial insects such as alyssum, coriander, candytuft, dill, parsley, sunflower and yarrow.

Garden Chores

Visit nurseries often, so when new plants arrive you can get the best pick. When buying seedlings, bigger is not always better: look for quality, dark green leaves, thick, sturdy stems, nothing shriveled or yellow. Pop a seedling out of its cell to examine the roots; you don't want a skimpy root system or a matted one.

Read the plant label and pay attention to the cultural needs. Does it need sun or shade; does it like dry conditions or wet? Select plants with similar needs and plant them together, your plants will look better and live longer.

Before investing in large trees and shrubs do some simple sleuthing. What does the tree look like when it reaches maturity? DON'T think that you can keep a tree or shrub small. Know what the mature height and width, sun exposure, water needs, and pest problems are before buying. Just about all nurseries and garden centers have a Sunset Western Garden book up near the cash register. Read books (especially ones written for our area), talk to nursery-people, neighbors and of course Master Gardeners. The Master Gardeners have an excellent handout on tree selection for our area.

At the nursery choose trees with good trunk taper, temporary branches low on the trunk, and no circling roots. Avoid trees where the branches all arise from on point on the trunk as these will develop structural problems as they grow.

The Master Gardeners will be back at the Visalia Farmers Market on March 18, come and visit.

March 2, 2006