March is the month when gardeners awake from hibernation, lumber from their easy chairs and head over to garden centers to sniff out what’s new and find answers to such burning questions as “What’s the difference between moles and gophers?”
Anticipating your needs, the Homes & Gardens of the Northwest staff asked the seasoned pros – aka the “Purple People” – at Al’s Garden Centers to give us an answer a day to take us through the month.
1. How do I get rid of the moss in my lawn?
Apply an iron based lawn moss killer like Lilly Miller’s Moss Out or Scott’s Turf Builder with Moss Control. Rake out the dead moss, repeat if needed.
2. Should I aerate my lawn?
If you have poor or compacted soil and haven’t done it for two years or more, yes. Aerating your lawn allows water, fertilizer and oxygen to get to your lawn’s roots.
3. Is it time to fertilize the lawn?
Yes, spring is a great time to fertilize your lawn. Don’t use a Weed and Feed product yet, it’s still too cool for the weed part of the product to work.
4. What is lime for lawns?
Lime raises the ph of our naturally acidic soil, which can help prevent moss from growing, and also allows your lawn to take up more nutrients.
5. How do I fix bare spots in my lawn?
First, rake away dead grass. Second, sprinkle on grass seed and third, apply a thin layer of compost or peat moss to keep seeds from drying out. Seeds should sprout in about two weeks.
6. Which is better, sod or seed?
Both can give you a great lawn. Seed is less expensive, but you need to be patient for the seeds to grow. Sod is instant gratification.
7. How short should I mow my lawn?
3 to 3 ½ inches is a great height for lawns in spring.
8. How can I kill the weeds in my lawn without killing the grass?
You can do it the old fashioned way and dig them out or you can use a spot spray like Bayer Advanced Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer that will kill the weeds, but not your good lawn.
Moles and gophers
9. How can I tell if I’ve got moles or gophers?
You need to look at the mound of soil the critter left. If you can’t see into the hole and the mound looks like coffee grounds piled up, you’ve got a mole. If you can see into the hole and the mound is a horseshoe-shaped pile, you’ve got a gopher.
10. What is the best way to get rid of moles and gophers?
If you want to channel your inner Daniel Boone, trap them. Cinch traps work great. If you don’t want to trap them, chase them into your neighbor’s yard using deterrents like Mole Max from Bonide.
11. Is it too early to plant basil?
Yes, basil likes to be warm, making May a better month for planting basil. If you just can’t wait, buy a small plant to grow on a sunny, warm windowsill.
12. When is the last frost date?
It's the last day we have a frost that might harm tender new plants. The dates change a little from year to year, but we predict May 1 on that we should be frost free.
13. Can I plant peas now?
Yes. March is a great time to sow peas directly into the soil or to transplant peas you’ve started indoors.
14. Is it too early to plant tomatoes?
Yes, unless you have a greenhouse or other structure to keep them warm.
15. What vegetables can I plant now?
Snow peas, shell peas and snap peas, lettuce, radish, spinach, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower.
16. What is the best way to get rid of slugs?
Sluggo won’t harm your pets or your kids. Beer in a shallow dish also works as an attractant. The slugs crawl in for a sip of beer, but don’t make it out.
17. Should I fertilize my blueberries now?
Yes, the best thing to use is an acidic fertilizer like Espoma’s Holly-tone or you can also use Al’s Slow Release Organic fertilizer or Espoma’s Garden-tone fertilizer.
18. Can I plant strawberries now?
Yes, it’s a good time to plant strawberries. If you want berries all summer long, plant an everbearing variety like ‘Seascape’ or if you want to make jam and need a lot of ripe berries at the same time, plant a June bearing variety like ‘Hood’ strawberries. Strawberries can also be planted in pots; even hanging baskets will work for some varieties of strawberries.
19. Do I need to plant two different types of blueberries to get berries?
Technically no, but research has shown that you’ll get 20 percent more berries if you plant at least two different varieties. Also, if you plant two varieties that ripen at different times, your berry crop will last throughout the summer.
20. How much sun does my vegetable garden need?
At least six hours of full sun. Warm afternoon sun is best; most veggies don’t like shady places.
21. What edibles can I grow in a hanging basket?
Some varieties of strawberries and cherry tomatoes are perfect in a hanging basket, just look for the smaller, more compact growing varieties. For you foodies, almost any herb will grow in a hanging basket.
22. What fertilizer can I use on my vegetable garden?
Garden-tone by Espoma is an organic fertilizer that can be used on edible gardens or Al’s Organic Slow Release fertilizer. A traditional fertilizer like 16-16-16 also does the job in the garden.
23. Can I use treated lumber to make a raised bed?
We don’t recommend using treated lumber or railroad ties. Use untreated cedar, plastic or stone. Many recycled materials will work, but try to avoid ones that may leach chemicals into the soil.
24. Should I cover my garden tonight if frost is in the forecast?
Yes, it doesn’t hurt. You can use a floating row crop cover, a thin plastic sheet or even a bed sheet. Remove it in the morning after the threat of frost has passed.
General garden questions
25. My soil is soggy. How can I fix it?
Is drainage the problem? A good place to start is to look for a source of water like a downspout that is causing the problem. Can you divert the water elsewhere? Next, you can add soil amendments like compost or peat moss. Finally, if you still have soggy soil, how about using raised beds?
26. How deep should I spread the mulch around in my flower beds?
Don’t bury plants too deep. A 2-inch layer of mulch will help keep the weeds down and moisture in. If you mulch with compost, you’ll be feeding your soil too. Just remember to keep the mulch away from the base; many plants don’t like their trunks buried.
27. What is an “annual” flower?
An annual is a flower that lives for one season and not return next spring. Favorite annuals are petunias, snapdragons, cosmos and begonias. Whereas, perennials are plants that come back year after year. Some perennials go dormant in the winter, but will return again in the spring. They are helpful in the landscape because you don’t have to keep replanting them and they come back bigger and better than the year before.
28. What kind of flowers can I plant in March?
Two great frost tolerant choices are pansies and ranunculus.29. My Crape Myrtle hasn’t leafed out yet, is it dead?
Wait, put the shovel away. Your Crape Myrtle is probably not dead. Crape Myrtles bloom in late summer so they are one of the last plants to leaf out.
30. Should I prune my rhododendrons now?
No, wait until your rhododendrons are done blooming to prune them. Once they are done blooming, just snap off the spent blooms at the base of the bloom, or prune to shape.
31. What should I fertilize my rhododendrons and azaleas with?
Holly-tone from Espoma has a balance that acid-loving plants like rhodies, camellias and azaleas love.
-- Homes & Gardens of the Northwest staff
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