March is a fantastic calendar month , but it does need some resiliency . The sporadic getting even of wintry weather can be disheartening , even when we make out spring is coming . Each warm Clarence Shepard Day Jr. makes it hard for us to resist running directly out to the garden . tramp around in boggy garden , however , is not good for the soil . lime hydrate spreaders , barrow , and other equipment will create densification . What garden chore can we do early in the time of year to celebrate the restitution of saltation ?

natural spring PRUNING

FERTILIZATION

The serious room to recognise how much to fecundate , and what variety of fertiliser to use , is toget a territory tryout . For help on how to do this through the Virginia Cooperative Extension , see thislink . Soil testing should be done about every three years .

perennial

recurrent planting can rob the grunge of its raw fertility . However , do not fertilize perennial heavily . If a perennial bed is amended with compost , further fertilization may not be necessary , which will be shown by asoil test . If additional dressing is indicate , a light fecundation program using a 5 - 10 - 5 if available , or a balanced fertilizer such as 8 - 8 - 8 or 10 - 10 - 10 , will provide a uninterrupted supplying of nutrients to produce respectable plants . Spread fertilizer in modest mob around each plant in March or early April when the plant life breaks dry land . Avoid the crown and foliage . Repeat twice at 6 - week intervals . This should be enough to carry plants through the summer . NOTE : flora that are aboriginal to your especial locale , and which are suit to local environmental conditions regarding moisture , pH , and soil eccentric , will likely need less or no additional impregnation .

Woody flora

Generally speak , the best time to fertilize woody plants is around the time they start out to develop actively . Most bush make active growth in the give and early summer;it is good to fertilise them once around March or April . Some shrubs are report as prefer acid or alkaline soil , and there are fertiliser made specifically for plants that prefer acidulent territory . azalea are an object lesson of a shrub that prefer acidic fertilizers . A general fertilizer can be used as well . Look up fertilization recommendations specific to each plant . NOTE : As with perennials , shrubs that are aboriginal to your locus and suited to your environmental circumstance , will in all likelihood require less or no extra fecundation .

Bulbs

Different source give different recommendation forwhen to fertilize bulb , hash out below .   A general good word is toavoid using gamey - nitrogen fertilizers;instead , use a balanced fertilizer , such as 8 - 8 - 8 or 10 - 10 - 10 , or a plant food made especially for bulb . Avoid getting fertiliser granules on the foliation ; for dim plantings , wash off foliage with a hosiery . The most important footfall is to first create a salubrious soil by mulch with compost or well - compost manure to enrich the garden soil .

Timing

Virginia Tech recommends usingtwo spring applicationsof a balanced fertilizer at a charge per unit of 3 lbs . per 100 sq . feet . The first software is done when foliage first appears ; the 2d is done after the bulbs have blossom .

accord to “ The Bulb Blog ” by the commercial bulb glasshouse , Brent and Becky ’s , fertiliser should be added to the soil in the crepuscule for declension - planted bulbs , and in the spring for spring - planted bulbs .

Another recommendation fromThe Garden Shedarticle,“Spring - flowering Bulbs,”is to fertilize in the saltation after the heyday fade , and again in the autumn at about the same clock time as you would establish raw bulb .

When considering these different good word , you may need to consider how practical it will be in the downslope to turn up your spring - flower bulbs . If you have abulb garden with aggregative plantings , you could certainlyspread chondritic fertilizer in that garden in the fall . If your bulbs are dust throughout your gardens , however , it is more hard-nosed to aim for spring fertilization after the foliage first appear . The alternative to fertilise in both gloam and spring for a bulb garden seems feasible . The conclusion to choose one or two fertilizations in springiness may bebased on the vigor of your saltation efflorescence .

SPRING LAWNCARE

These lead have been leave byThe Healthy Virginia Lawns ( HVL ) syllabus , a joint venture between the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and the Department of Conservation and Recreation . The program provides science - free-base lawn fertilisation testimonial and other best management recitation for householder , through situation visits done by a trained Extension Master Gardener volunteer . For extra information and to fill up out an applications programme , please netmail one of the project coordinators , Melissa King or Khosro Aminpour , athealthylawnsalbemarle@gmail.com .

Fertilization

Before any fertilization programme is adopt , a soil test should be done , at least every three years . See thislink for information on grease examination . Homeowners frequently ask about using the commodious , wide available “ step ” programsdeveloped for lawn throughout the time of year . Be aware that thelevels of nitrogen stop in the mid - spring and summertime steps in the program often exceed the recommended levelsthat cool - time of year turfgrasses can efficiently utilize in the spring and summertime months .   Another choice for selecting fertiliser for spring treatment on cool - season grasses is tochoose products that check 50 pct or more water system - indissoluble nitrogen ( often called “ ho-hum - release ” nitrogen).Slow - release N is made uncommitted to the flora slowly either by room of controlled chemical or microbial decomposition . This provides a sustained growth response without a peak in shoot growth at the disbursal of the roots .

Keep in mind that , in most cases , fall is the ideal time for lawn fertilization . Turfgrass Frustration in Central Virginia / Garden Shed .

Weeds

Many of these stair programs incorporate herbicides for weed control . Many expression of “ weed - and - feed ” materials ( product with a preemergent weedkiller impregnated on a fertiliser carrier ) are popular in spring lawn applications . If you select dope - and - feed materials with high share of atomic number 7 , take beginning that are preponderantly slow - release nitrogen ( as indicated on the label ) . summertime one-year weeds ( crabgrass , goosegrass , foxtail , etc . ) are the most vulgar targets for preemergent weedkiller treatment in the bound , but many other grass and broadleaf weeds also germinate as filth temperatures warm and day develop longer . In mature turf , applications of broadleaf herbicides can be made as before long as the dope is actively growing . Typically , this will be when air temperatures are high than 70 ° . Apply preemergent herbicides for crabgrass and other summertime annual weed when daffodils , forsythia , and dogwoods are flower prolifically . If the principal weed problem consists of wintertime annual plants ( weed such as Lamium amplexicaule , chickweed , or geranium ) that have already flowered , then the herbicide will not foreshorten future populations since the weeds have completed their life-time cycles/second .

For more detailed pedagogy on issuing such as applying herbicide when overseeding is also plan , see this article from Virginia Cooperative Extension,“Spring and Summer Lawn Management Considerations for Cool - Season Turfgrasses . ”

For information on strong - season grasses see this article from VCE,“Spring and Summer Lawn Management Considerations for Warm - Season Grasses . ”

For more information on how to sweep up a more ecofriendly approach to lawncare , see past articles fromThe Garden Shed,“Responsible Lawn Care in the Era of Climate Change”and“Beyond the Lawn : Imagine the Options . ”

COTTONY CAMELLIA SCALE ON HOLLIES

Late last bounce / early summertime , the holly bushes in our foundation plantings on either side of our front entry were covered with wasps . It was a punic pass into the mansion for a couple of weeks . After researching the problem , I discover that these white gadfly are cottony camellia scale(Pulvinaria floccifera),a soft scale in the human body of retinal rod - same disks , commonly found on holly . The eggs hatch in late May through former June and the tiny new lackey feast along the vein on the lower leafage surface . The scales grow through the summer and overwinter on sprig and branches .   Usually a Charles Hardin Holley can tolerate cottony camellia scale without ache much damage .

A large population of cottony camellia shell may , however , require intervention .   If your Buddy Holly had major damage last twelvemonth , you may spraya light - weight unit dormant horticultural oil in early outpouring to kill eggs that have overwintered . you’re able to also useinsecticidal soapearly in the life cycle when the scales are in the creeper stage , ordinarily in early - mid June(VCE recommend June 10 - 20.)Be certain to cover the bottom of parting and home leaves so that you plow all the orchis and crawlers while they are dynamic . Once the scale has matured , horticultural oil color and soaps will not be effective because the insects form a waxy coating to overwinter . Like most sonant scales , cottony camellia scales suck out sap and excrete honeydew melon , a sweet , sticky liquidness in which obscure sooty molds often grow . The honeydew attract wasps and other insect . The presence of black jet stamp will bespeak a high population that may require discourse , but keep in mind thatcottony camellia weighing machine can usually be bear with no noticeable damage to the plant life . It is when their populations become big and the plant strength is reduced that scurf need control . Or , when wasps become a problem !

INVASIVE SPOTLIGHT – GARLIC MUSTARD ( GM )

Garlic Indian mustard ( Alliaria petiolata ) has displaced aboriginal wild flower such as give stunner , violent ginger , bloodroot , wood lily , and toothwort in many forested areas . This is because GM grows so vigorously in early leap and fall that it outcompetes them . GM is allelopathic , which means it publish toxin into the dirt . These toxins embarrass the growth of other plants mintage , and inhibit forest Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree regeneration . Several butterfly species have become threatened because their wildflower host are now rare due to incursion by GM . Other butterflies are menace because they lie their eggs on GM instead of on their host plants , and GM ’s leaves poison their larva . This plant iseasiest to recognize after it produces white flowers in former April . Its foliage is also typical , and all function of GM emit a strong garlic odor . This plant is a biennial that completes its entire lifecycle in two growing season . Its seeds germinate any time from spring to fall . Be mindful of how early GM blooms , and how quickly it sets seed . It is essential to remove garlic Indian mustard before it sets seminal fluid . Once the flowers form seeds , any disturbance commit the come flying . Newly germinated seedlings may not be obvious at first because they may be buried in leaf litter . Always purse GM after pulling . Even after being pulled from the ground , a 2nd - year GM flora continues to acquire , peak , and set seminal fluid ! See thefactsheetfrom Blue Ridge PRISM ( Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management ) for information on how to identify and eradicate this encroaching . Blue Ridge PRISM also recommends thisarticlefrom University of Massachusetts Amherst .

source

Tasks and Tips clause from preceding March issues ofThe Garden Shed:2020,2019,2018,2017,2016

“ Shrub Pruning Calendar , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension , https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu / content / dam / pubs_ext_vt_edu/430/430 - 462/430 - 462_pdf.pdf

“ A Guide to Successful Pruning : Pruning shrub , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension , https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430 - 459/430 - 459.html

“ Is It Time to Prune My Trees and Shrubs ? ” Clemson Cooperative Extension , https://hgic.clemson.edu / is - it - time - to - prune - my - tree - and - shrubs/

“ horticulture by Month , ” Missouri Botanical Garden , https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org / gardens - gardening / your - garden / avail - for - the - household - gardener / advice - tips - resources / gardening - by - month / march.aspx

“ April Tips , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension , https://albemarle.ext.vt.edu / content / dekameter / albemarle_ext_vt_edu / files / hort - tip - sheets/4 - 14 - april - backsheesh - perennials.pdf

“ The Bulb Blog , ” Brent and Becky’s , https://brentandbeckysblog.com / web log / news / bulb - nutrition - and - how - it - works

“ Spring and Summer Lawn Management Considerations for Cool - Season Turfgrasses , ”   Virginia Cooperative Extension , https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu / depicted object / dam / pubs_ext_vt_edu/430/430 - 532/430 - 532_pdf.pdf

“ Spring and Summer Lawn Management Considerations for Warm Season Turfgrasses , Virginia Cooperative Extension , https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430 - 533/430 - 533.html

“ Spring Weeds , ” University of Maryland Extension , https://extension.umd.edu / hgic / topics / outpouring - weeds

“ Common Turf Weeds . ” Virginia Cooperative Extension , https://www.pwcgov.org / government / dept / vce / Documents / Common%20Weeds.pdf

“ Scale Insects on Holly , ” Extension Ask An Expert , https://ask.extension.org / questions/248919

“ Cottony Camellia Scale , ” Fairfax County Master Gardeners , https://fairfaxgardening.org / cottony - camellia - scale/

“ Cottony Camellia Scale – Shrubs , ” University of Maryland Extension , https://extension.umd.edu / hgic / topics / cottony - camellia - scale - shrubs

“ Rampant and Most - feared Invasive : Garlic Mustard , ” Blue Ridge PRISM , https://blueridgeprism.org / wp - content / uploads/2017/06 / Garlic - Mustard - Factsheet-5 - 27 - 17 - VDOF - W - Box - FINAL.pdf

“ Here ’s the Dirt : The Newest Recommendations for Garlic Mustard Management , ” ScholarWorks at UMass Amherst , https://blueridgeprism.org / wp - cognitive content / uploads/2019/10 / Heres - the - Dirt_-The - Newest - recommendation - for - Garlic - Mustard - Ma.pdf