Average temperature High 79 Low 56
Rainfall 3.54 inches
Spring arrives: March 20th.
Move irrigation to 2x a week watering on Daylight Savings Time Day.
Time to plant
Vegetables: Bean, calabaza, cantaloupe, cassava, chayote, corn, cucumbers, dasheen, eggplant, Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, luffa, malanga, New Zealand spinach, okra, pepper, pumpkin, southern peas, squash, tamarillo, tomato, and watermelon.
Flowers: African daisy, ageratum, aster, azalea, bacopa, balsam, begonia, black-eyed Susan, blue daze, bush-daisy, celosia, cleome, coleus, coreopsis, cosmos, dahlia, Dahlberg daisy, daylily, diascia, dusty miller, four o'clock, gaillardia, gardenia, gazania, goldenrod, hibiscus, Hollywood Hibiscus™, impatiens, ixora, Joseph's coat, King’s mantle, licorice plant, marigold, melampodium, Mexican heather, million bells, moon vine, morning glory, New Guinea impatiens, nierembergia, pentas, plumbago, roses, salvia, strawflower, tithonia, torenia, verbena, vinca, Whirling Butterflies, and zinnia.
Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, borage, cardamon, chervil, chives, coriander, costmary, dill, fennel, ginger, lemon balm, sweet marjoram, Mexican tarragon, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and watercress.
Bulbs: Achimenes, African iris, African-lily, amaryllis, blood lily, bulbine, caladium, canna, crinum, crocosmia, dahlia, daylily, eucharis lily, gingers, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, Louisiana iris, rain lily, tuberose and walking iris.
Lawn Care
Winter weather has browned many lawns; they should regreen quickly this month.
Brown leaf blades do not have to be removed but can be raked out if you wish.
It’s seeding time for Bahia and Centipede lawns.
Get a soil test before fertilizing each Spring.
UF AgriTech Soil Test Kit https://bit.ly/41N19B7
St. Augustine, Bahia and Bermuda lawns are ready for a spring fertilizer application.
Delay feedings of centipede and zoysia lawns until they regreen in late March or April.
Identify weeds before using general herbicide.
Time for using pre-emergent herbicide products is over.
Apply separate herbicide for weeds if necessary. No need for weed and feed products.
Do not use glyphosate or other herbicides as an “edger.” Edge with garden edgers or spade.
Many weed control products cannot be used near trees and shrubs, check label restrictions.
Mow lawns at their normal height; there is no need to change blade height for spring.
Hurry to remove patches of brown weeds and resod the areas.
Check for chinch bugs by using a hand-held vacuum cleaner. Apply insecticide if more than 20 chinch bugs are found.
Control fire ants in lawns; treat the entire lawn following label instructions.
Consider a substitute ground cover in areas smaller than 4’ wide, hard to mow, or problem areas where grass won’t grow.
Have lawn care equipment serviced; change oil, check air filters and sharpen blades.
In the Landscape
Cold weather damaged many tender shrubs and perennials; do needed pruning this month. You can cut your shrub by ⅓ and not stress the plant too much. Water well before and after pruning.
Clear perennial plantings of debris and add new selections.
Control your landscape by trimming tree out of bounds shoots and limbs.
Wait to prune spring flowering shrubs until the blossoms fade.
No need to hack crape myrtles and commit ‘crape murder’. Remove only seed pods and twiggy portions smaller than little finger.
Consider needed tree trimming; have the work performed now before hurricane season.
Trim declining fronds and old flower stems from palms but leave any fronds that are green.
Complete pruning of bush-type roses; prune climbers when the spring blooms fade.
Trim and divide ornamental grasses before they begin spring growth.
Cool & warm seasons meet in March; continue to plant most cool and warm season flowers.
Add trees, palms, shrubs and vines to the landscape.
Water new plantings frequently until they grow roots into the surrounding soils.
Cool-season weeds are still growing; control before they become too plentiful.
Reapply mulch layers to bring mulch up to 3”.
Trim poinsettias to within 12” to 18” from ground and begin feedings.
Apply fertilizer to palms, shrubs and perennials.
Established shade and flowering trees normally do not need special feedings.
Check plants for scale insects and control with natural sprays as needed.
Water established plants only when they show signs of wilting or moisture stress
Divide and replant perennials.
Replant container gardens with spring flowers.
Divide outdoor orchids and begin every other week feedings with a diluted fertilizer solution.
Turn fallen leaves into compost or use as mulch.
Feed container gardens with a slow-release fertilizer following label instructions.
Give power equipment a spring checkup.
Clean bird houses, bird baths and fountains.
Remove debris from water gardens and repot lilies.
Vegetable and fruit care.
Early March is tomato, pepper, and eggplant planting time; set new plants in the ground.
Keep covers handy to protect cold sensitive crops until mid month.
Remove winter vegetables as they decline and plant warm season crops.
Select pest resistant varieties to avoid insect and disease problems.
Plant short rows every few weeks of seeded crops to extend the harvest season.
Use bush forming crops instead of vining types in crowded gardens.
Herbs flourish during the warmish weather; almost all do well now.
Garden pests including aphids, whiteflies and mites are active; use a natural control.
Spring growth is underway; complete all fruit tree pruning.
Prune cold damaged tropical fruits to remove brown leaves and declining stems.
Identify the type of grapes you are growing to obtain proper pruning and care information.
Pineapples start flowering this month; maintain a good care program.
Feed all fruit bearing trees, shrubs and vines at this time.
Add new fruiting trees, shrubs, and vines to the landscape.
Select warm locations for new tropical fruits.
Maintain citrus tree vigor with the first of the new year feedings.
Apply a minor nutrient spray to citrus trees at each flush of new growth
Control Asian psyllids; apply an insecticide labeled for citrus at each flush of growth.
Add container herb and vegetable gardens to crowded landscapes.
Construct raised beds for easy maintenance.
Reapply mulch to fruit trees.
Fertilize vegetables lightly every 2 to 3 weeks or use a slow-release fertilizer.
Train vining vegetables to a trellis to save space.
Sprout sweet potatoes to produce transplants.
Install water conserving sprinklers in fruit and vegetable plantings.
Foliage & indoor plants chores
Some foliage plants have been affected by the cold; trim and add more soil if needed.
Repot plants filling their containers with roots.
Replace declining plants with low light tolerant varieties.
Groom indoor plants to remove yellowing leaves and faded blooms.
Trim Christmas and holiday cactus and begin more frequent waterings and feedings.
Wash dust and pests from indoor plant foliage with a mild (not antibacterial) soapy solution.
Move orchids outdoors or to a bright area and begin every other week feedings.
Treat forced bulbs as temporary and add to compost pile when finished blooming.
Check for mealy bugs, mites, and other pests. Treat according to label.
Visit your local independent nursery centers for new plant varieties.