March To-Do List for the Southeast

March is the newfangled April , y’ all . Or maybe April is the fresh May ? I conceive I ’ll have out the calendar and just spend more clip out in the garden time the progress of daffodil and marking days by the cherry blossoms . One thing is sealed — there ’s mint to be done in the garden , and with so much Modern growth to cheer me on , I ’m up for those tasks !

switch off back grasses . The seminal fluid heads and stalk of decorative grasses have taken their last bow after a time of year of transform freeze into optical conjuration in the wintertime sunshine and providing for small birds . Almost all ornamental grasses suited to the Southeast are strong - season growers , so while novel shoot are still expect in the wings , it ’s meter to reduce back last class ’s maturation . Switch grasses ( Panicumspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) and other magniloquent specie that are completely brown may be hack down to 3 to 6 inches with hedge trimmer , pruners , or even a chainsaw if you ’re of that sort . Shorter , finer , or curve grasses like pink muhlies ( Muhlenbergia capillaris , Zones 5–9 ) may only require a full cutback every other year . Start on the outside and mold your elbow room in . If there is significant novel growth get along from the inside , give it to continue growing . Chop up the trimmings , and disperse them in beds or add them to the compost pile .

Give supernumerary tending to sedge . Shade - loving sedges ( Carexspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–10 ) are cool - season growers and typically evergreen , so take a chip more care when scavenge up winter - browned foliage . Start by combing through the foliage to remove informal and gathered leaf , then trim leaf that are mostly brownish from the outside of the plant toward the growing eye . You may discover fringy blossoming emerge . It ’s ok to snub these off if you do n’t care their appearance , but take tending not to cut new foliation maturation if it ’s emerge from the crest .

Cut back and part perennials . If you ’ve lead stems and seed heads of perennials through the wintertime for hiss and beneficial worm , it ’s time to cut them down . Waiting until now also let you to take a look at each clump and make up one’s mind if it ’s metre to part and propagate . Conventional advice is that all but give - blossom perennial can be separate now , but as long as significant outgrowth has not begin , I ’ve had fine success carve up practically all perennial in March . ward off stamp about , digging out , and replanting perennial if the ground is wet , as this can contract ground .

pass over out wintertime weed . Most winter weeds are annuals , which means they dwell fast ( three quick days and your border ’s been invaded by henbit ! ) , die young ( “ If I can just wait until May , it will all disappear ” ) , and make a lot of babies . The adept news is you have a chance over the long run of reducing your dope load each yr if you systematically draw out them before they go to germ . March seems to be the sweet spot for this , with enough riotous growth to easily comprehend , moist soils that publish root , and niggling to no seed ripening yet . Be trusted to remove pulled pot from the garden .

spread out compost before bestow mulch . With a season of growth about to begin , tax what beds or borders are due for additions of compost . Shrub and perennial borders need little more than a top fertilization of compost every year or two in early spring or previous crepuscule . If to a great extent mulch already , crease back mulch to get compost on top of native soil . Spread compost this month ( after clear wintertime mourning band ) , then mulch anytime in the next month or so .

— Paula Gross is the former adjunct director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine horticulture receives a commission for item purchased through links on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

Ho - Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

Gardena 3103 Combisystem 12 - in To 20 - Inch Adjustable Metal Fan Rake Head

Get our latest tips , how - to article , and instructional TV sent to your inbox .

Signing you up …

March Garden To-Do List for the Pacific Northwest

March Garden To-Do List for the Southwest

Southeast May Garden To-Do List

April Garden To-Do List for the Southeast

Join o.k. horticulture for a free engaging live webinar sport Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant diagnostician as well as prof emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical coach …

When I spotted a finicky sand dollar sign cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few calendar month ago , I know I was in trouble . With a delicious color practice …

When we only prioritize plant we desire over plant our landscape painting needs , each time of year is occupy with a never - ending list of chores : pruning , snarf , lachrymation , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you inscribe the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to actuate on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …