March from the Mid-Atlantic is about the Search! Every morning I step out my front door and am amazed at what has changed at ground level. Look carefully this month, peeking below those dried leaves and crusty mulch, and you’ll be surprised at the amount of green hiding there. Crocuses, daffodils, irises and tulips — they’re there, waiting to explode into spring.
Join me now as we peek below the detritus of the past year’s crop to locate the treasures that await us and get started planting for the entire year ahead.
Amy Renea
The first flower that pops into your mind may be the diminutive yet magnificent crocus if you think of spring. Look carefully at the start of the month and you will see its small grass-like leaves emerging from the soil — and by the end of the month, what a show you may notice.
Design suggestion: Crocuses look fabulous planted under deciduous trees and bushes, bringing a shot of color to these blank spots in the garden each spring. From the time your tree foliage outside, the crocuses will have obtained enough energy to get ready for next year.
Amy Renea
Bleeding heart is just one of those plants that shocks me in spring. The distance has been bare for months, and also a shocking fuchsia mind of rock celebrity hair peeks up to say, “Hello world!” Give it a month, and that pink will fade into green because the plant develops.
Design suggestion: Bleeding heart vanishes to the ground immediately after blooming. Plant it near large, bushy plants — like peonies — which will complete the blank space later in spring and summer.
Amy Renea
You may mistake a peony bud for bleeding heart when you first visit it. Those buds are reddish-pink at first. Look closely, however, and you will notice that those peony buds come to some stage rather than getting that frilly rock star hair.
Design suggestion: Plant peonies at which you’ll have the ability to enjoy the flowers and the scent. Old-fashioned varieties rival any rose.
Amy Renea
While hunting for miniature plants, be certain that you don’t step on flower beds. The ground is soggy and wet, and those baby plants are easily damaged. Hunt in the borders of the beds and also hold off on heavy duty gardening till later in spring.
Amy Renea
While hunting for new development, do not forget to look for seeds. Many plants still have seedpods hanging on for dear life, and you may often harvest seeds to plant instantly.
Amy Renea
Amy Renea
The seeds that you started last month have leaves today and can be moved to larger pots or planting beds. But do not plant them in the backyard yet unless they’re cold hardy, like Swiss chard. This popular garden vegetable can take just a small chill, go right ahead and plant your own chard begins, along with onions, spinach and mustard greens.
The best way to Initiate a garden from seeds
Amy Renea
The leek is another fantastic backyard vegetable that can handle a little bit of cold. Plant leeks and onions (and even potatoes if it’s really warm) in waves so that you can harvest them during the summer.
Design suggestion: When designing your vegetable garden, look at underplanting hard root plants such as onions and leeks with shallow-rooted lettuces and greens. The greens will keep the weeds down, and you won’t disturb tough root plants when picking tender lettuces.
Get a Jump on a Cool-Season Vegetable Garden
Amy Renea
Every one these plants benefit from just a small defense, so a home made cold frame may be the ticket to beginning your planting season from the early weeks of March. If a frost is imminent, pay the frame with a blanket or two, along with your cold-hardy plants ought to perform just fine.
Design suggestion: Use vinyl windows when possible for frames in a vegetable garden. Older wooden windows may have chipping lead paint.
Amy Renea
Chickens may safely roam the backyard freely, but by the end of March, much of your backyard will be sprouting and fragile, so chickens should stay cooped up till your plants can get some height and roots.
The best way to raise chickens without ruffling feathers
Amy Renea
Also, keep away from bird’s nests and birdhouses at this time of year. Birds are arriving home from the South and have been scouting locations for their dinosaurs. Don’t move items around on these.
Amy Renea
Your benefit: the noise of baby robins chirping in the months to come.
Amy Renea
Whether you’re hunting for new growth, scouting for seeds or getting started on the planting season a bit early, March is a month to get trust. Winter is fading away, along with the promise of spring is evident everywhere you look — as long as you get low to the ground and look hard enough. Happy hunting!