MARCH
- APRIL (EARLY SPRING)
Gardening Tasks:
* Come by our nursery and get inspired, it's Springtime! ( we're open
Tuesday thru Saturday 9am to 5pm)
* Do early feeding of Blueberry bushes, ammonia sulfate around dripline
or a natural fertilizer for acid loving plants, we carry both! Reapply
mulch to keep those roots cool and moist through the Summer.
* Cut back any old dead growth that may still be hanging on to your
perennials. Be careful not to cut into any new emerging growth and feed
them while you're at it. We carry several options from bagged compost
to some O.M.R.I. approved fertilizers.
* Prune trees and other appropriate shrubs, choose dry days so cuts
have time to heal, especially prunes and cherries.
* Apply slug bait as weather warms, especially around newly emerging
growth. Avoid using metaldahyde based baits, the new iron phosphate
based products work well and are safe to other living creatures. We
stock 3 sizes of Sluggo at Islandscape.
* Be on the look out for earwig damage on your tender young plants,
especially seedlings. I've seen these little munchers do more damage
than slugs, if you don't see any sign of slime then you can almost be
sure it's earwigs. Their favorite place to live is between wood and
soil and anywhere that holds moisture. Sorry to say the best way to
kill them is by smashing them, or sometimes diatomacious earth will
discourage them a bit. Earwigs can also be very damaging to artichokes,
it seems to be one of their favorite foods.
* Weed areas you didn't get to in Fall. It really helps if you can
eradicate them before they go to seed, those weeds may be smothering
one of your prized perennials.
* Check out your tools and gardening gear. You want to be ready when
that nice day comes along, you may find something needs sharpening or
replacing!
* For those of you who planted a crop of "green manure" somewhere,
it
may be time to till it under, especially those of us with sandy soil. On the
other hand if you have heavy, clay soil, wait for the soil to dry before tilling.
Working overly wet soil is a real no-no!
* And yes, it may time to mow that lawn between rain showers, but not
too short and no more than a third at a time (mowing twice is a lot
better than giant clumps all over your lawn!) This is also a good time
to fertilize and patch your lawn areas and control weeds if you choose
to do so.
A good time to plant the selections listed below:
* Many trees and shrubs are available this time of year in what we call
bare root, exactly what it is, they're dormant so no problem, and the
selection and price is at it's best. In shrubs we have forsythia,
lilacs, twig dogwoods, mock orange (philadelphus), roses, and many
other flowering shrubs. In trees we have a nice selection of regional
fruit varieties, shade, flowering and trees for great fall color. The
bare root season usually only lasts through the end of March, then
everything gets potted up and sells for a higher price because of the
labor involved in this process and selection is often reduced.
* Edible plants are also available this time of year, many in the bare
root form as well. Available to plant now are: strawberries,
raspberries, blueberries, asparagus and rhubarb.
* Our selection of balled and burlaped conifers is at it's best now
too, some also sold in smaller pots.
* Some flowering perennials to consider now would be: Euphorbias,
Hellebores, Heucheras, Corydalis, Papavers, Bellis, bulbs sold in pots
like tulips, narcissus, and hyacinth.
* Many vines are just starting to show new growth, but the evergreen
clematis (Clematis armandii) is looking and smelling great!
* In annuals, it's time for the huge array of color in primroses,
violas, and pansies. As the temperatures rise more availability of colorful
bedding and container plants will come too.
Seed availability and info.:
* At Islandscape we stock Territorial, Renee's and Botanical Interests,
all varieties hand chosen to perform well in our area.
* Other seed we carry includes grass seed, cover crop seed , regional
wildflower seed, onion and potato sets (in Spring).
* We also stock seed starting medium and supplies, even Reemay and
garden clips for cloches.
* Here are some general seed sowing tips I've learned over the years:
_ use row cover (reemay type) when direct sowing seeds in the
garden.
_ read seed packet info carefully, keep notes or journal
_ don't over or under sow seed
_ soaking hard to germinate seeds really helps
_ generally plants in the umbel and mustard families do not
transplant well, direct sow
_ consider timing when starting seeds indoors, many grow fast, and
it may still be too cold to put them out when they're ready, and you
should always harden them off for several days.
_ store unused seed in airtight container in fridge.
* Some seeds you can start indoors now, but in a cool, well lit
location: many types of perennial flowers, parsley,artichokes,
lettuces, brassicas. Check sow dates on seed packets.
* Some seeds you can direct sow outdoors now: wildflowers, poppies,
arugula, spinach, mustards, micro greens, mesclun mixes, lettuces,
radishes, onions, chard, beets, peas, turnips, chervil , and cilantro;
though if we get a late frost after these germinate, you may want to
cover them. I always cover my new seed beds with row cover.
What's happening in nature:
* The red wing blackbirds are announcing Spring's arrival.
* Our native Alders are taking on their reddish cast, meaning they're
starting to bloom.
* Watch for early bloomers like our native Ribes (red currant), a sure
sign the hummers are on their way back.
* As the days and nights warm a bit the tree frogs make their presence
known.
* A walk in the woods could reveal our lovely little lady slipper
orchids (Calipso bulbosa) and those unusual though tasty morel
mushrooms, too.
* And on the "fauna" side of things, out come those adorable little
chipmunks that have been hibernating since November.
* And my all time Spring favorite, the return of our tree swallows,
those amazing flying creatures...........
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