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Skip Richter
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Things To Do In March:

Fertilize:
Begin monthly feedings of hibiscus after pruning. Start a rose feeding schedule; spray and feed camellias. Begin fertilizing azaleas after they bloom. Fertilize established fruit and nut trees with 1 lb. 15-5-10 per inch of trunk diameter. Berry bushes should receive 1/3 cup per square yard of planting area.

Diseases/Pests to look for:
Watch for aphids on new growth, spider mites on older leaves and cut worms on young transplants. Spray peach and plum trees for curculio weevils when 3/4 of the petals have fallen (repeat three times at two week intervals).

Prune:
Prune hibiscus, also spring flowering shrubs and trees, after they bloom. Prune and train vines. Shape spring-blooming shrubs with light pruning after bloom. Allow bulb foliage to yellow and die before removing.

 

Things To Plant In March:

Flower Plants:

  • Achillea (Yarrow)
  • Ageratum*
  • Alyssum
  • Joseph’s Coat* (Amaranthus)
  • Summer Forget-Me-Not (Anchusa)
  • African Daisy (Arctotis)
  • Alpine Aster
  • Butterfly weed (Asclepias)
  • Balloon Flower
  • Balsam*
  • Blue Daze*
  • Blue Cardinal Flower
  • Boltonia
  • Scarlet Bouvardia
  • Browallia*
  • Calliopsis
  • Candytuft
  • Chocolate Plant*
  • Chrysanthemum
  • Cigar Plant* (Cuphea ignea)
  • Cleome*
  • Cockscomb*
  • Coleus*
  • Columbine
  • Copper Plant*
  • Coreopsis
  • Dahlia*
  • Dianthus
  • Daisy (Michaelmas, Shasta and Painted)
  • Feverfew
  • Gaillardia
  • Geranium*
  • Gomphrena*
  • Hibiscus*
  • Hollyhock
  • Indian Blanket
  • Jacobinia*
  • Lamb’s Ear (Stachys)
  • Lantana*
  • Liatris
  • Edging Lobelia
  • Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)
  • Nasturtium*
  • Nierembergia*
  • Penstemon
  • Penta
  • Petunia*
  • Phlox Drummondii
  • Plumbago*
  • Oriental Poppy
  • Salvia* (farinacea, greggii, leucantha, splendens)
  • Sedum
  • Spiderwort (Tradescantia)
  • Stokes’ Aster
  • Sunflower* (Helianthus)
  • Torenia (Wishbone Flower)
  • Veronica

Flower Seeds:

  • Ageratum
  • Balsam
  • Amethyst Flower (Browallia)
  • Candytuft
  • Castor Bean
  • Cleome
  • Butterfly Pea (Clitoria)
  • Cosmos
  • Dahlia
  • Echinacea
  • Feverfew
  • Impatiens
  • Moonflower (Ipomea alba)
  • Cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit)
  • Gomphrena
  • Sunflower (Helianthus )
  • Nasturtium
  • Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana)
  • Pinks (Dianthus)
  • Portulaca (Moss Rose)
  • Sweet Sultan
  • Marigold (Tagetes)
  • Tithonia
  • Torenia
  • Verbena

Bulbs:

  • Achimenes
  • Acidanthera
  • Allium
  • Alstroemeria
  • Amarcrinum
  • Amaryllis
  • Ground Orchid (Bletilla)
  • Caladium
  • Calla
  • Canna
  • Crinum
  • Crocosmia
  • Dahlia
  • Daylily
  • Butterfly Iris (Dietes)
  • Ginger
  • Gladiolus
  • Gloriosa Lily
  • Hosta
  • Spider Lily (Hymerocallis)
  • Yellow Star Grass (Hypoxis)
  • Liriope
  • Monkey Grass
  • Rain lily
  • Society Garlic
  • Tigridia
  • Tuberose

* Plant last part of the month.

Vegetables:

  • Early—Mid Month: phparagus crowns, Collards, Turnip.
  • Mid—Late Month: Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Peppers, Pumpkin, Squash, Watermelon.
  • All Month: Beans, Lettuce, Mustard, Radish, Tomato Plants.

Be prepared to protect plants from frosts and freezes. Give transplants a weekly boost the first month with a liquid plant food or "manure tea".

Herbs:

  • Anise
  • Star Anise
  • Basil*
  • Bay
  • Borage
  • Bouncing Bet
  • Caraway
  • Catnip
  • Chives
  • Comfrey
  • Costmary
  • Cumin
  • Fennel
  • Fenugreek
  • Scented Geranium*
  • Germander
  • Horehound
  • Horseradish
  • Lamb’s Ear
  • Lavender
  • Lemon Grass*
  • Lemon Verbena
  • Mexican Mint Marigold (a great substitute for French Tarragon)
  • Monarda
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Perilla
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Santolina
  • Summer Savory
  • Winter Savory
  • Sesame
  • Sorrel
  • Southernwood
  • Tansy
  • Tarragon
  • Thyme
  • Common Wormwood
  • Roman Wormwood
  • Yarrow

Fruit:

  • Container grown fruit and nut trees
  • vines
  • bushes

 

Courtesy of the Garden Guide for Austin & Vicinity, published by the Travis County Master Gardener Association, copyright 2000-2002.