March Garden Calendar | Johnson County K-State Extension Lawn & Garden Tips

Vegetables and Fruit

Prepare soil for spring planting by lightly tilling and adding organic matter such as compost to improve the soil structure.
Fertilize before planting. Use 3 to 4 pounds of fertilizer, such as 27-3-3 or 25-5-5 per 1,000 square feet or 10 pounds of 13-13-13. Only use the 13-13-13 if a soil test indicates the need for phosphorus and potassium.
Plant potatoes, peas, onions, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and spinach through late March.
Plant perennial vegetables, rhubarb and asparagus.
Now is an excellent time to plant fruit trees, strawberries, grapes, and blueberries.
Start seeds inside for tomatoes, peppers, and other warm-season vegetables.
Apply dormant oil to fruit plantings to reduce scale and mite insects.
Control peach leaf curl before bud break with a fungicide.
Finish pruning fruit trees, grapes, raspberries and blackberries.
Remove mulch from strawberries when growth begins.
Avoid tilling and working wet soils as this destroys soil structure.
Keep row cover handy in case of hard freezing temperatures.

Plant pansies, snapdragons, kale, Nemesia, Diascia and other cool-loving annuals.

Clean up the perennial bed by cutting back foliage and removing the winter mulch layer.
Divide and plant perennials in the garden.
Prepare soil for planting by adding compost or other organic matter.
As growth begins, fertilize gardens. Only use balanced fertilizers if a soil test indicates the need for additional phosphorus and potassium.
Start seeds indoors under lights for transplanting to the garden.
Plant new roses.
Delay removing winter mulch from roses.
Prune roses starting in late March.
Cut ornamental grasses back to within 3 - 5 inches of the ground.
Fertilize spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils as foliage emerges or before blooming.
Build energy in bulbs for next year’s bloom by removing seed pods from spent flowers.
Control iris borers by removing old foliage before new growth begins.
Unwrap mail-order plants immediately and keep them cool and moist until planting.

On a non-windy morning, spot spray for dandelions, henbit, and chickweed.

Apply crabgrass preventer in late March through mid-April for best results.
Seed thin areas in bluegrass and tall fescue lawns.
If no fall application of fertilizer was made, wait to fertilize bluegrass and tall fescue until May.
Mow grass one-half inch lower than fall to remove winter debris. Do not scalp.

Prune trees, except birch, maple, and walnut, which are best pruned after leafing out.

Wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs until after they bloom.
Mulch trees and shrub plantings up to 3 inches deep, keeping mulch away from trunks.
Fertilize trees and shrubs.
Plant new trees in the landscape.
Remove tree wraps from young trees for summer growth.
Rake and clean groundcover plantings.

Sharpen and repair garden tools.

Resist the temptation to move houseplants outdoors until the temperatures remain above 60 degrees, even at night.
Fertilize houseplants for spring growth.

Have questions? The Garden Hotline is staffed by trained EMG volunteers and Extension staff who will assist you with questions.

Phone: (913) 715-7050 | Email: garden.help@jocogov.org