FACTS, ADVICE, AND FUN THINGS TO DO:

WITCH HAZEL: lATE WINTER FLOWERS HAVE A GREAT SCENT

BEES: IT TAKES 250,000 HONEY BEES OR 250 MASON BEES TO POLLINATE AN ACRE OF APPLE TREES.

WALKING ON WET LAWNS: CAN COMPACT THE SOIL AND LEAD TO POOR DRAINAGE.

BUGS: CLUSTERS OF FLIES, LADYBUGS AND BOXELDER BUGS IN SUNNY WINDOWS ARE HARMLESS

DAYS TO MATURITY: DAYS TO MATURITY ON SEED PACKET IS TIME FROM GERMINATION TO HARVEST OF CROP.

EASTER LILIES: THEY CAN BE PLANTED OUTDOORS WHEN BLOOMS ARE GONE.

BUILD HOUSE: CREATE A HOMEMADE HOUSE FOR MASON BEES AS FAMILY PROJECT.

BUYING SUMMER FLOWER BULBS: PICK ONES THAT HAVE NOT SPROUTED YET

WATERING GARDENS: MOST GARDENS NEED ABOUT ONE INCH OF RAIN PER WEEK IN THE GROWING SEASON.

 

 

CALENDAR:

MARCH 1-10:

-MOUNT NESTING BOXES TO ATTRACT INSECT EATING BLUEBIRDS TO YOUR GARDEN.

-SCOUT YARD TO FIND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS TO PLANT MOISTURE LOVING PLANTS IN SPRING.

-USE CLEAN CONTAINERS AND SEED STARTING MIX TO AVOID TAMPING OFF..

-SOW PARSLEY SEEDS NOW. (FLAT LEAF IS MORE INTENSE FLAVOR THAN CURLY LEAF TYPES) INSIDE

MARCH 11TH-20TH:

-USE BIODEGRADABLE POTS FOR PLANTS THAT DO NOT TRANSPLANT WELL.

-PRUNE FRUIT TREES, RASPBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES AND GRAPE VINES.

-START ALL SEEDS OF ANNUAL FLOWERS. INSIDE.-START BROCCOLI, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, CABBAGE AND CAULIFLOWER INSIDE.

-USE STEPPING STONES IN WIDE BEDS TO REACH PLANTS BETTER.

-SEND SOIL TESTS TO CT. AGRICULTURAL EXT. SERVICE NOW.

MARCH 21ST TO MARCH 31ST;

-SPRAY PLANTS THAT NEED IT WITH HORTICULTURAL/DORMANT OIL SPRAY (JUST BEFORE TREE BUDS SWELL)

 (THE OIL SMOTHERS OVER-WINTERING SPIDER MITES, APIDS, SCALE INSECTS AND PSYLLIDS)

-CONSIDER WARMING SOILS USING BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS MADE FROM CORNSTARCH.

--START TORNATILLOS FROM SEED TO USE IN SALSA THIS SUMMER.

-REMOVE SOME OF THE STRAW MULCH COVERING GARLIC AT FIRST SIGNS OF GROWTH.

-SOW PEAS IN GARDEN AS SOON AS SOIL IS WORKABLE.

-BUY PELLETED LETTUCE AND CARROT SEEDS TO HELP GERMINATION.

APRIL 1 TO 10TH:

-START SEEDS OF TOMATOES, PEPPERS AND EGGPLANT INDOORS.

-APPLY DEER AND RABBIT REPELLANT TO CROCUS.

-DIG UP AND MOVE SMALL SHRUBS AND TREES BEFORE LEAF BUDS OPEN.

-RAKE LAWN NOW.

-PRUNE SUMMER FLOWERING SHRUBS NOW. (NOT HYDRANGEA-CALL US FOR THOSE)

-CHECK TO SEE IF HOUSEPLANTS NEED RE-POTTING.

-PLANT A FEW EXTRA PEAS TO HARVEST AS YOUNG SHOOTS.

-DISPOSE OF DEAD BEARDED IRIS FOLIAGE TO PREVENT BORER EGGS.

APRIL 11TH TO 20TH:

-CUT DAFFODILS FOR INDOORS.

-RESEED BARE SPOTS IN LAWN IF SOIL TEMPERATURE IS WARM ENOUGH.

-PLANT LEAFY GREENS IN ROWS OF 14-16 INCHES TO SAVE AGRDEN SPACE.

-DIG UP SNOWDROPS TO DIVIDE OR MOVE WHILE LEAVES ARE STILL GREEN.

-CUT BACK TATTERED LEAVES OF HELLEBORES AND BERGENIA.

-TRANSPLANT ONION SEEDLINGS TO GARDEN.

-CUT SEED POTATOES AT LEAST ONE DAY BEFORE PLANTING TO LET CUT SURFACES DRY.

-PLANT SEED POTATOES IN ROWS 10-12" APART IN A SHALLOW TRENCH.

APRIL 21ST TO APRIL 30TH:

-PROTECT SEEDLINGS FROM WIND AND LIGHT FROSTS WITH ROW COVERS.

-WEAR TICK REPELLANT AND CHECK PEOPLE AND PETS DAILY.

-APPLY B.T. AS SOON AS EASTERN TENT CATERPILLAR TENTS ARE SPOTED ON FRUIT TREES.

-ALLOW LEAVES OF SPRING BULBS TO DRY NATURALLY.

-PLANT EPIMEDIUM FOR A WELL BEHAVED GROUNDCOVER IN SEMI-SHADY AREAS.

-RESIST TEMPTATION TO PLANT ANYTHING BUT PANSIES OUTSIDE UNDER AFTER THE FIRST FULL MOON IN MAY,

AND THE DANGER OF FROST IS OVER.