10 Gardening Activities for March in the Northeast

1. Plant Native Sod or Wildflower Sod

If you’re considering adding more native plants to your garden this season and have a lot of space to fill, then order a native sod. Grown by suppliers such as Green Thumb Farms in Fryeburg, Maine, these sods can be ordered by the pallet and start at $5.50 per square foot. There are a good selection of native sods that include native lowbush blueberry, bunchberry, ferns, moss, as well as mixed plants.

2. Transplant Cool-Season Crops into the Garden

Cool-season crops that were started last month can be transplanted into garden beds, as long as the threat of hard frost has passed or if you have frost protection. These crops include cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Swiss chard, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard, and onion. When transplanting starts, be sure to harden them off. Upon planting, add compost to garden beds and be sure the new plants are consistently watered. If you’re not watering by hand, check your irrigation systems to make sure they’re operating properly.

3. Sow Warm-Season Crops Indoors

Warm-season crops such as eggplant, melons, tomatoes, peppers, squash, and basil can all be sown indoors under grow lights. This will provide 6 to 8 weeks for crops to mature before you transplant them sometime in April. For exact seed starting and transplanting dates based on your average last frost, check out this seed starting calculator. Self-watering seed starting kits make growing easier. Be sure that once your seeds sprout you provide good air circulation and light. Using an adjustable grow light will allow for better development of strong starts. Lower the light when plants are young and raise it as they mature.

4. Cut Back & Divide Ornamental Grasses

Early spring is the best time to cut back and divide ornamental grasses; this will provide the shortest amount of time that grasses look stubby. It's also an especially good time to cut back fall-blooming grasses because it will provide time for them to recover and still bloom this year. Cut back grasses using hedge shears. If you want to divide plants, dig up the entire clump with as much of the root ball as possible, and divide it into smaller parts using a shovel or garden spade. Transplant divisions around the planting bed or relocate them to other areas of your garden.

5. Get Ideas at Flower Shows

Spring is flower-show season, especially in the Northeast. The weather is still cold, but gardeners are itching to get their hands dirty. Plan a trip to a flower show to find inspiration. Be on the lookout for deals on tools, plants, and garden structures (trellises, arbors, pots, raised beds, and more). Many vendors have special prices for show attendees. Check out these garden shows: Boston Flower & Garden Show, Philadelphia Flower Show, Capital District Garden & Flower Show (New York).

6. Divide Certain Perennials

Perennials that typically bloom after mid-June such as aster, rudbeckia, coneflower, and shasta daisy are best divided in spring. Dividing these perennials in spring provides time for them to recover and even bloom their first season. Try to divide plants before foliage reaches 6 inches tall. To divide plants, dig up the entire clump with as many roots as possible. Divide the clump by removing some of the soil around the roots and splitting off divisions (aim for 6-inch by 6-inch sections). Then, replant around the original clump for a mass planting effect or replant throughout your garden. When planting divisions, be sure they have amended, nutrient-rich soil and that they are watered well.

7. Keep Bulbs Fertilized & Consistently Watered

It’s a good idea to fertilize bulbs when foliage first appears. Rainfall may provide enough moisture, but check the soil around bulbs to make sure it is moist down to the planting depth if the weather has been dry. Generally, bulbs don’t require much water over the fall and winter months, but once spring hits be sure to keep your bulbs consistently watered. Later in the year, after blooming, be sure to let the foliage die back naturally (don’t cut it back when it’s still green). The foliage will help rejuvenate the nutrients in the bulbs so they can bloom again the following year.

8. Plant Cool-Season Annuals for Color

Cool-season annuals such as violas, snapdragons, pansies, nemesia, or calendula are great for adding color to your garden early in the season. Plant annuals in containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets if the ground hasn't warmed up yet. Be sure your containers are filled with all-purpose potting soil that has the proper nutrients and retains moisture. You can also add continuous-release plant food.

9. Fight Crabgrass & Weeds Early in the Season

Crabgrass typically begins growing once soil temperatures reach 50 degrees. A pre-emergent weed preventer can help keep crabgrass and other weed seeds from germinating. For broadleaf weeds, or those already growing, use a safe weed killer such as Bonide BurnOut or Weed Slayer Organic Herbicide directly on the growing weeds. Stay on top of other weeds as they emerge. Handheld digging tools or a soil knife make weeding easier.

10. Plan for Your Berry Garden

Berry bushes and canes can be prolific fruit producers. If you want to enjoy your fruit (instead of letting the birds eat it), then it’s good to plan ahead. Consider adding a fruit cage to your garden before you plant blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries later in spring (typically April or May). Crop cages come in a variety of shapes and sizes from suppliers such as Gardener’s Supply. Some gardeners build larger cages that can fit more than a dozen blueberry bushes. It’s also a good idea to amend soil as many berries (especially blueberries) like more acidic soil. This can be achieved with pelleted sulfur or by adding acidic fertilizer to the garden bed. Read up on growing blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.