MARCH
MARCH
PLANTING
Plant bare root, balled and burlapped, balled and potted, and container-grown ornamental landscape plants. Bare root plants should be dormant. Spring has become a traditional time for planting because environmental conditions favor planting. Soil and air temperatures should be above freezing. Plants adapt readily to the intensity of spring sunlight and are not likely to be stressed by dry weather.
TRANSPLANTING
Dig plants that were root pruned in the fall. Deciduous plants may be moved bare root before bud break while broadleaf and narrowleaf evergreens should be moved balled and burlapped or balled and potted. Moving may be done whenever soil and air temperatures are above freezing. Root prune plants that you intend to move in October or November.
PRUNING
Thin and rejuvenate overgrown or unhealthy deciduous plants to direct and control new growth.
FERTILIZING
Once you have selected a spring planting site, one of the first priorities prior to planting is to test the soil. Soils in established landscapes should be tested every three years and fertilized as required.
WATERING
Irrigate newly planted, actively growing ornamentals any time there is less than 1 inch of weekly rainfall. Apply water at the rate of 1 quart per square foot of planting area on poorly drained soils. On well drained soils, use a half-gallon of water per square foot. Newly planted ornamentals not yet actively growing can be injured by overwatering.
PLANT PROTECTION
For newly planted ornamentals, you may apply a pre- emergence herbicide before spreading a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch over the soil in the bed or around trees. Level winter mulch berms and use the excess to thicken thin spots in beds and around trees for a summer mulch to conserve moisture and prevent weed seed germination.
PEST MANAGEMENT
Warning! Not all formulations of all recommended pesticides are labeled for all suggested uses. Buy formulations that are labeled for the specific pest problem. Follow all pesticide label directions and precautions.
When a particular pest becomes active depends on the weather conditions in your area. The pest management guide gives general guidelines for a broad geographic area. Depending on your location, a particular pest may appear early or late within the month(s) in which the pest is listed.
Pest Common Hosts Controls ------------------------------------------------------------ Insects mealybugs, mites, dormant shrubs, superior(dormant) scales evergreens, oil trees
