By Heather Rhoades, Owner at GardeningKnowHow.com
There is an old saying about March that goes “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” March weather can be like a temperamental toddler where one minute she is calm, warm and loving and the next minute she is cold, bratty and screaming at you with gale wind force. I personally think of March as Mother Nature’s annual terrible-twos.
When March is being sweet and loving, you can go outside and see plenty of evidence that Spring is truly on its way. Right now, you should see crocus and snow drops popping up, Lenten roses should be blooming and the leaves of your daffodils and early tulips might even be just peeking out to see if it is safe to come out yet.
The question this time of year for many gardeners is how do you take care of these earliest of bloomers who often help us see that spring is just around the corner?
Fertilizing
Perhaps the most important thing you can do for your spring bloomers is to get them some food. Most Spring bulbs and Spring flowering plants have not seen much in the way of extra nutrition since the last time that they bloomed. Place either a healthy scoop of compost or a small handful of balanced fertilizer around your spring blooming plants.
This is especially important with your bulbs. This time of year, they are starting to store energy for next year’s blooms. The more food they get now, the bigger their blossoms will be next year.
Clean Out Your Beds
It can be difficult in the Bedford area to fully clean out your beds in the Fall. Early snowfall and late leaf fall can mean that you cannot get out to the beds to clean them out before the weather turns cold. Whether you were able to clean out your beds or not in the Fall, it is a good idea to get out on warm days in March and clear out those beds.
Early spring bloomers can get trapped under matted leaves or piled mulch. Clean out your beds and make it easier for both the early and late spring bloomers to break free from the ground and entertain you with their beautiful display.
Don’t Prune
Lastly, after your early spring bloomers are done with their show, hold off with the pruners or scissors. Spring blooming bulbs and plants need their leaves in order to help store energy for the following year. Good fertilizing combined with letting the leaves die back on their own will equal an amazing display next year.
Even though we are not done with snow here in Bedford, that does not mean that we need to stay huddled inside. There are some things you can do in the garden on the nice days. By the way, if it snows after your bulbs bloom, don’t panic. These early Spring bloomers are well equipped to survive the snow and you don’t need to protect them from the cold.
That is all for this month! Remember, if you have an gardening questions, you can send them to questions@gardeningknowhow.com and one of our gardening experts will be happy to answer them.
