Like the Sirens of Greek myth seducing sailors into shipwreck, those first warm days of late winter can lure us dangerously into the garden. Though the weather may be inviting, beginning some garden projects this early could cause more harm than good. Consider the following dos and don'ts for March:
Do begin lawn clean up, raking out leaves and matted dead grass, once the ground is dry enough.
Don't clean out garden beds - especially protective mulch - too soon; a late snow or some bitter nights could still be on the horizon.
Do prune winter-damaged, dead or diseased branches from all herbaceous and woody plants.
Don't prune early-spring blooming perennials, or early-flowering shrubs such as forsythia and lilacs.
Do take samples for soil testing once the ground has thawed, so you can begin proper amendment later.
Don't start digging in your beds yet, as you can damage the soil structure. A good rule of thumb: if the soil sticks to the shovel, it's too soon to work it
Do plant peas on St. Patrick's Day!
Don't compact the soil in your garden when you do!
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If you'd like to plan out the "dos" for the whole gardening season,
sign up for this Saturday's workshop:
The Practical
Garden Calendar
Saturday, 3/13 @ 10 a.m.
Do seasonal garden chores tend to sneak up on you? Do you always miss the sowing dates for your favorite annuals? Would you like to spend less time playing catch-up and more time playing? Andrew Koehn, who manages the gardens at Mohonk Mountain House to such stunning effect, can help you map out a calendar appropriate for your gardening year. You'll leave feeling organized and ready to embrace the growing season! Bring a calendar with space for notes, or purchase a recycled paper journal at Phantom.
The workshop is $15, and you can register by calling us at 845-876-8606 (though walk-ins are welcome). For a complete list of our 2010 gardening workshops, visit our website or pick up a brochure at our front counter.
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