Going into March in the Garden – A To-Do List

As winter slowly fades away and signs of spring start showing, March is almost here and it's an exciting time in the garden. For gardeners in Oregon, this month is all about getting ready, planting, and keeping up the garden to make sure it thrives all season. Whether you've been gardening for a long time or are just starting, here's your must-do list for March in the garden.

1. Clean Up and Prep Your Garden Beds

• Take out any left dead leaves, sticks, and plants from garden beds and yards.
  
• Cut down perennials that were up for winter fun.
  
• Trim roses, fruit trees, and bushes before they start to grow.
• Put compost or old manure in the soil to make it better.
  

2. Start Seeds Indoors

• Start planting seeds for cool-weather crops like lettuce, spinach, kale, and peas.
  
• Begin warm-weather veggies inside, like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, to move them out in late spring.
• Think about using grow lights to help seedlings grow strong and healthy.

3. Plant Early Spring Vegetables

• As the ground starts to warm up, plant tough veggies like carrots, radishes, onions, and beets directly into the soil.
  
• Put broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage young plants in the ground.
• If it might get cold again, cover young plants with row covers.

4. Lawn Care and Maintenance

• Clean up any leftover leaves and grass to help air flow better.
  
• Fill in bare spots with new seeds and give your lawn an early spring feed.
• Begin mowing as needed, but keep the mower blade high to help roots grow strong.

5. Check Irrigation Systems

• Look over drip lines, hoses, and sprinkler heads for any damage.
  
• Check if your system works well before the dry weather comes.
• Think about making improvements, like adding a rain barrel to save water.

6. Prune and Maintain Trees & Shrubs

• Finish cutting fruit trees before the buds appear to help them make more fruit.
  
• Cut off broken or dead branches from decorative trees and bushes.
• Don’t cut spring-flowers like lilacs and rhododendrons too much, or they won’t bloom well.

7. Prepare for Pollinators

• Plant flowers that bloom early such as crocus, daffodils, and hellebores to help bees and other pollinators.
  
• Stay away from using chemicals that could hurt helpful bugs.
• Set out a shallow dish with stones for bees to use as a water spot.

8. Tackle Weeds Before They Take Over

• Lay down mulch to stop weeds and keep the ground moist.
  
• Pull weeds by hand before they spread seeds.
• Use a weed preventer where you won’t be planting seeds.

9. Plan and Design Your Garden

• Draw your garden to make sure there's enough room and you change crops.
  
• Buy the seeds, bulbs, or plants you'll need for planting later.
• Think about adding new things like higher planting beds, climbing frames, or walkways.

10. Enjoy the Transition to Spring

• Go around your garden and see what is starting to grow.
  
• Write down what went well last time and what you want to get better.
• Imagine sunny days and all you'll gather!

March brings new beginnings and following these steps now will help your garden be beautiful and give a lot when it's time.