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.