Planting
March is still a good time to plant trees.
Transplanting
Can be done this month with good results.
Fertilizing
Use fertilizer stakes or granular products to fertilize your trees.
Pest Control
Continue to spray trees with a lightweight horticultural oil (Dormant Oil) if they are infested with scale. Spray several times about 10 days apart.
Pruning
Trees planted a year or more generally need some pruning. Do not prune pines in March as they tend to bleed more this time of the year.
Planting
Continue to plant roses purchased in containers. It is too late to plant bare root roses after the first of this month.
Transplanting
This is not the best time to transplant roses.
Fertilizing
Fertilize when new growth begins. Use a premium-quality rose fertilizer.
Pest Control
Regular applications of blackspot treatment should begin as soon as new leaves begin to open.
Pruning
Prune as early in the month as possible if you did not do so in February. It will not hurt your bushes but your roses will bloom later.
Watering
Watch the rainfall and water plants if necessary.
Planting
It is still too early to plant warm season grass seed, but you can lay sod.
Fertilizing
Warm-season grasses are just waking up and reestablishing a strong root system. Wait until early April to apply the first fertilizer application.
Pest Control
Apply a weed preventing pre-emergent to help prevent summer weeds.
Mowing
If sufficient growth occurs you should mow. Do not mow grass especially short the first few times. Scalping the lawn is not recommended and can lead to a weakened root system.
Watering
If needed, water thoroughly. This encourages roots to grow deep.
Planting
Spring months are fun months to plant new shrubs in the garden. It is a good time to replace any shrubs that were damaged through the winter.
Transplanting
Although most shrubs are coming out of dormancy you can still safely transplant since the temperatures are still on the mild side.
Fertilizing
This is the month to fertilize shrubs. Apply fertilizer evenly around the plants. They can be applied directly over the mulch or you can pull back the mulch apply the fertilizer and replace the mulch.
Pest Control
Aphids make their appearance on the new growth of a variety of shrubs this time of year. Also, leaf spot diseases may attack new growth on some shrubs.
Pruning
Finish up pruning summer-flowering shrubs by the end of this month. Do not be too hasty to prune growth that has been damaged by winter freezes. Wait and watch shrubs as they begin to grow and look at which branches are sprouting. Some branches that lost all of their leaves due to freezing weather may look dead but aren’t.
Watering
Newly planted shrubs will require watering in. Use of a root stimulator when planting shrubs helps them establish faster prior to the arrival of the heat of summer.
Planting
Perennials may not look like much when you purchase them this month. Just imagine how they will look when they bloom in 2 to 3 months – or even at the end of the summer.
Transplanting
Finish up transplanting and dividing perennials as soon as possible.
Fertilizing
Established perennials should be fertilized this month.
Pest Control
Snails and slugs may be active, get an early start on control and don’t let their populations build. Control aphids, caterpillars with approved aids.
Pruning
Not much pruning is necessary during active growing periods.
Watering
Apply water slowly over time with a sprinkler or soaker hose to ensure a deep thorough watering when adequate rain is not received.
Planting
The weather has warmed up and you want to plant annuals. It is a tricky time of year – a last freeze or heavy frost can damage any warm weather annuals you plant. Frost cloth can help.
Fertilizing
If it has been over 6 weeks since your last application of granular fertilizer, or over 2 weeks since you last used a soluble fertilizer you might want to do so now.
Pest Control
Slugs and snails can be a problem – use an aid to keep them under control.
Watering
Dry conditions can occur during this month, if so water deeply and thoroughly whenever irrigation is needed.