March Garden Tips

 Gardening has been such a big part of the family tradition that I thought I'd better get as much information written down from mom and dad as possible to pass on.

If you haven't done so already, prune the grapes.   I usually do them around President's Day.  Plant pansies in ground or pots.  Seed annuals indoors.  Apply dormant spray to fruit trees before new growth appears.   Prune winter-damaged hedges.   Trim more at top than bottom to allow light to reach lower branches.  Prune young trees before they leaf out.   Remove dead and crossing branches.   Clean up and mulch all existing beds.  Trim yews, junipers, arborvitae, and hemlock.   When weather premits, mow lawn short to remove dead grass.  Cut back perennials and ornamental grasses before new growth appears.  Remove all of the small, weak canes on raspberries. Cut back the lateral branches to 18 inches.