MARCH CHECKLIST

The sunny days tell us that spring has come early! But has it? Not to be a downer, but remember that while the odds of big snows are slim at this point, they are still possible all the way into late April (we once had snow in early May). Therefore, go ahead and plant flowers and veggies and celebrate our stretch of nice weather, but also keep your eyes on weather forecasts for the next few months...

That means keep some row fabric for chilly nights and be prepared to move your flower pots under cover if the weather dips into the 20s. If a really big chill comes then you may need to do some extra care for plants that have already started to bloom. They are especially vulnerable. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. If such a cold period comes up, check the website for plant safety tips. In the meantime, have fun.

Here's a checklist:

Around the home

• Perk up wintery-looking pots with early spring flowering color. New selections arrive weekly!
• Plant sweet peas against a fence or trellis where their fragrance and soft colors welcome spring.
• Set out clean nesting material for Mason bees. March is the perfect time to establish a Mason bee habitat. You can set out cocoons when spring temperatures reach 55 and fruit trees start to bloom.
• Plant trees and shrubs. Fertilize new plantings as well as established landscape plants.
• Prune hydrangeas. Apply amendments to change or maintain their blue or pink color.
• Transplant deciduous shrubs before they start leafing out.
• Remember, despite the little bursts of warm weather and sunshine, it's still winter. Be prepared to cover your tender plants when the forecast calls for freezes.

Edible gardening

• Start spring greens! Lettuce, kale, spinach, arugula and mustards can be planted now. Make sure your veggie beds are well-draining and keep a sheet of cover fabric on hand in case of chilly nights.
• Plant peas, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, seed potatoes, onions, and asparagus now too.
• Start tomatoes and peppers seeds indoors.
• Plan your veggie garden. Cold weather-loving veggie starts, including lettuce, kale, spinach, broccoli, and fava beans begin arriving toward the end of the month.

Lawn care

• Temperatures in the mid-50s mark the start of lawn season. Feed, reseed, and apply lime to discourage moss.
• While it's not quite mowing season, you can sharpen your mower blades, and prepare for the active season.

Indoor plants

• You can now repot and fertilize your houseplants.
• Remember that there's still not as much daylight now as there will be in a month, so you should ensure that your plants are getting enough light or get a grow light.
• Add some new houseplants. This is not a bad time to give your houseplants some friends.