Central Texas Gardener

Things to do in March

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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: asparagus 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

Additional March Tips

To do for March 28th, 2013
To do for March 23rd, 2013
To do for March 16th, 2013
To do for March 9th, 2013
To do for March 28th, 2012
To do for March 21st, 2012
To do for March 10th, 2012
To do for March 3rd, 2012
To do for March 26th, 2011
To do for March 19th, 2011
To do for March 10th, 2011
To do for March 6th, 2011
To do for March 13th, 2010
To do for March 6th, 2010
To do for March 28th, 2009
To do for March 21st, 2009
To do for March 14th, 2009
To do for March 7th, 2009
To do for March 29th, 2008
To do for March 22nd, 2008