March Gardening Guide In South Florida

With just about two weeks away the spring months are quickly approaching which means we are heading for warmer days, with the coming of spring our garden soils will begin to warm up at a faster rate. Warm-season plants are beginning to wake up from their long winter nap, soon our gardens will be filled with a burst of shades of green and flowing plants that paint our landscapes and gardens with a variety of colorful flower blooms in different shapes and sizes.

Then there is the presence of pollinators and wildlife that move about actively even taking a rest from the heat that the spring months sometimes bring. During the months of spring, let’s continue to work in our gardens (spring cleaning) to ensure that we cultivate an environment where our garden plants will continue to thrive. Our gardens are our mini ecosystem that contributes to the biodiversity of plants, animals, insects, and soil microbes that help to maintain balance and support life.  Here is what to do in your spring garden.

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9 Steps to Spring Garden Success

1. Cleaning Your Flower Beds

Begin working on your flower beds by doing some minor pruning if needed. This is a great time to also remove debris which will not only take away from the beauty of a flower garden but can be a hiding place for garden insect pests and rodents. Garden flowers can liven up a drab or dull area with their vibrant colors so make sure to give your flower beds some tender loving care. Besides cleanup, installing a few fresh flowering plants can be a bonus.

2. Keeping Weeds Down

If you’re like me I do not like to weed but it is something that I must do to ensure that my flower garden and other garden areas look great.

Weeds will compete with garden plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Weeds are also a hiding place for garden insect pests and carry disease.

To make your weeding task not seem like a task put a plan in place. Weed early in the morning just before the sun rises or late in the evening when the sun is about to set.

Don’t allow weeds to grow and spread, remove them as soon as they appear. Use a weed kneeling bench to make weeding more comfortable and for installing bedding plants.

Weeds that are growing along sidewalks and driveways can be spot-treated with herbicide mix in a hand-held sprayer or a back-pack sprayer can work also. Never use herbicides near garden plants or edible plants. Never attempt to apply herbicides in windy conditions or if rain is forecast. It is good when dealing with herbicides to wear gloves and a face mask or a respirator.

3. Prune Trees and shrubs

For fuller trees and shrubs it’s good to get in on some pruning. If you haven’t pruned your fruit trees before the winter now is the ideal time.

Start pruning now before the buds break into full bloom or the tree/trees will become stressed and you will have a tin crop or a poor harvest. The tools that can be used in your pruning maintenance program are hand pruners,  loppers shears, or pruning saws. Depending on the thickness or the size of the limbs or the branches will determine which tool is ideal for the job.

4. The Addition of Mulch

Mulch is a great addition to flower beds and other garden areas, there are many benefits of mulching for example. Mulches help to make a garden look polished and clean, help to suppress weeds, retain moisture for plant use, and add nutrients to the soil as it breaks down. It’s good to add a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around flowering plants, trees, palms, and shrubs, when applying mulch ensure that the mulch doesn’t come in contact with the plant’s stems or tree trunks because mulches hold moisture and when allow to make contact with plant parts can encourage fungus.

5. Dividing Perrinals

A good time to divide many perennials is just before spring growth begins. Dividing perennials is a budget-friendly way to add more plants to your garden, or to share extras with friends. It also aids in keeping your existing perennials healthy. After a few years, if your plants grow in a large clump, the middle can thin out, leaving a bare spot. Dividing the clump will encourage new growth.

6. Taking Care of your Veggies and  Garden Herbs

For those of you who are considering what edible plants can be grown this time of the year here is what to plant, potatoes, okra, lettuce, peas, collards, artichokes, mint, basil, rosemary, parsley, oregano, thyme, sage, dill and cilantro.

7. Scout for Garden Insects Pests

An effective garden practice to cultivate is the scouting of garden insect pests at least once a week, it’s amazing the amount of damage these pests can do in a short time if undetected and allowed to persist in their destruction. Keep an eye out for, spider mites, scales, aphids, thrips, whiteflies, mealybugs, snails and slugs, and caterpillars. Aphids, thrips, whiteflies, scales, spider mites, mealybugs, and caterpillars can be treated with neem oil, horticultural oil, or insecticidal soap spray. Before using pesticides read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the best results. Snails and slugs can be managed with snail baits or handpicking and throwing them into a container of soapy water will bring control.

8. Take Care of Your Hardscapes and Garden Furniture

Your hardscapes also need some tender loving care, take a look at your sidewalks, patio areas, garden deck, and outdoor furniture do any repairs that are needed or if a fresh coat of paint is needed then do so at this time.

9. Proper Lawn Care

There is a saying that ” the grass is greener on the other side of the fence” why not let it be yours, to keep your grass in tip-top shape continue with the right water and fertilizer application, the proper cutting height, and look for areas that may have issues ( disease and lawn pest) and apply the right control methods to encourage a healthy lawn.

The final word on March Garden in South Florida

The month of March is finally here as the warmer days are quickly approaching, the little changes you make now can pay off big time before the summer months arrive and well into the summer. So spend some time in your garden doing what is necessary to ensure that you reap the rewards of your efforts as you continue to give nature a helping hand.

About the author

Norman

+ posts

Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.

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