We’re finally starting to see colorful blooms in the garden as spring approaches. Here are some March gardening tips and things to work on in your Pacific Northwest garden.
Bulbs are finally popping out of the ground. Hellebores and camellias are in full bloom. It’s finally beginning to feel like spring is not that far away.
This is the time when I am back in the greenhouse full time and loving every minute of it.
There is plenty of inspiration in the March garden. So many changes are starting to happen here in the Pacific Northwest. The cold wet days of winter are still around, but the amount of daylight is increasing each day which means we can start spending more time in the garden. Daffodils, crocus, snowdrops, and irises are in bloom.
Here are some March gardening tips and things to do to get your garden ready for the next growing season.
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Garden Planting and Sowing Seeds in March
Vegetables to Plant in the Ground
- Cool-weather crops | broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, onions and shallots can be directly planted in the garden as soon as the soil temps are consistently at or above 40°F.
- Root vegetables | beets, carrots, radishes
- Bare-root | asparagus and rhubarb
- Leafy | spinach and lettuce
- onions and shallots
Planting Asparagus
When planting crowns in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, you should have asparagus to eat the following year. It can take 2-3 years before you have a harvest if you are planting seeds.
Sow Vegetable Seeds
Cole Crops | Start seeds for cole crops like cabbage and broccoli indoors or directly outdoors.
Warm-season vegetables | Start seeds indoors for basil, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons.
Sow seeds for peas, artichokes, strawberries, and blueberries.
Start Planting Spring-Planted Bulbs
Start planting spring-planted bulbs such as gladiolus, begonias, ranunculus, and calla lilies towards the end of March.
Sow Flower Seeds
Summer cut flower seeds such as zinnias and cosmos should be sown indoors this month. For more tips on sowing seeds, visit my blog post Seed Starting Basics.
Plant Flowers to Bring Color to the Garden
Primroses, violas, and pansies can be planted around the garden and in containers to brighten up the yard.
Pruning and Cutting Back in the March Garden
Cut Back Old Perennial Growth
Finish Pruning Projects
Fruit trees and grapevines | If you haven’t finished pruning your fruit trees and grapevines already, you’ll want to do so as soon as possible.
Roses | Early in the month, remove old, thin, and unproductive rose canes. Cut back bush roses to 12-18 inches tall and shrub roses to 3 feet.
Group 3 clematis | Italian clematis and scarlet clematis should be cut back in late winter to a pair or two of buds, approximately 8-12 inches from the ground. This group is new wood and should be at eye level when they bloom in the summer.
*Wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs until after the blossoms fade.
Start Removing Winter Mulch
Gradually pull winter mulch from your garden beds as you see plants showing signs of new growth. Acclimate your plants by removing the mulch over a period of several days.
Fertilize Plants and Bulbs
Rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias | Choose a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants.
Clematis | Work the fertilizer into the soil around the base of clematis vines and water. Refresh mulch around vines.
Bulbs | As new shoots appear, work in bulb fertilizer into the soil around plants. This feeding ensures an even better performance next year.
Roses | Feed your roses after pruning.
Dividing Summer and Fall Blooming Perennials
Early spring is a good time to divide and transplant crowded and overgrown perennial clumps of summer and fall blooming perennials such as…
- Shasta daisies
- Black-eyed Susans
- Asters
- Coneflowers
- Garden mums
- Day Lilies
- Phlox
- Sedum Autumn Joy
This timing gives new transplants a full growing season to recover before facing cold winter conditions.
If the perennial blooms before mid-June, then divide in fall. If the perennial blooms after mid-June, then divide in early spring. You can see more information about dividing HERE.
Weed and Pest Control
Stay on Top of the Weeds
It only takes a little sun before the weeds in your March garden start sprouting. Keep up on weeds in garden beds before they grow out of control. Now is the time to weed your garden, before weeds have a chance to flower, and go to seed.
Slug Maintenance
Rain brings slugs and snails, so control them by eliminating their hiding places. Clean up leaves, and use some slug bait around your most susceptible plants.
Apply Deer Repellent
The deer love tulips. When you start to see tulip foliage pop up out of the ground make sure you spray a deer repellant when you have a day that has no rain or wind.
I hope this gives you an idea of some gardening to-dos that need to be done here in the Pacific Northwest for the month of March.
I would love to hear from you!
Until next time,
Happy Gardening!
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Growing a Cut Flower Garden Series
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Even though I live in Florida and our soil is super sandy and we have to battle salty air and coastal winds, I’m always thankful for your helpful tips Kim. Your garden is crazy beautiful and we are beyond lucky you share all your best advice and recommendations. I’m definitely looking forward to following along on your progress again this year. Big hugs, CoCo
Spring is so close! Can’t wait to get back outside!
I also live in the PNW; thank you for all of these gardening tips! So helpful!
I love photos of your beautiful yard and garden. I love your potting shed, too. I had asked on another one of your posts about that adorable wire fairy that you have and I think you had mentioned someone in your neighborhood is an artist and makes them. Do you have her information? I would love to see what she has to sell. Also, you had mentioned that you were in a previous issue of Country Home magazine. It is one of my favorites and I found the article. I loved it and all the photos of your little piece of Heaven on Puget Sound. Thank you for sharing your beauty with us.
10 degrees here but I love your pics and posts I live in New Hampshire
so’ much great information!
Kim,
I love this post. You are teaching me so much.
Thanks for the planting tips! We are sprucing up our yard for our daughter’s wedding in May. There’s so much to do! BTW, your greenhouse is amazing!!! I best your plants love it!
I’m so glad they were useful, and congratulations to your daughter! I’m sure it will be the most beautiful wedding.