As the winter cannot end soon enough for most gardeners, lets’ discuss an early March to do list to start your gardening wheels turning!
Outdoor Plant Tips
Watering Your Garden
Freezing temperatures, frozen soil, and cold winds can wreak havoc on plants. As snow and ice thaws, be sure to water evergreens such as, azalea, boxwood, rhododendron, holly, and conifers. The water will help prevent winter burn. Be sure to water when temperatures are rising and warmer weather is predicted going forward (you want to avoid watering before a cold snap).
Clean Up
Remove any winter debris, fallen branches, or old leaves from garden beds. This will help reduce pests and provide a cleaner environment for spring planting.
Late February is often the best time to prune many trees and shrubs that are still dormant. Focus on cutting back dead or damaged branches and removing any crossing branches that could rub together when the tree starts to grow. Hold off on pruning flowering trees like lilacs and forsythia until after they bloom, as this could affect their flower production.
Check Your Gardening Supplies
Take stock of your garden tools, pots, seeds, and supplies. It's a good time to clean tools, sharpen blades, and replace anything that’s worn out or broken.
Plan Your Garden
Go Native Plants: As you plan your garden and think more about what to add, consider native plants. Not only are native plants adapted to regional weather patterns which makes them easy to grow, nearly all native plants attract wildlife to the garden. By planting native plants, you’re helping support the local food web.
Chelsea’s growing partners have stepped up their production of native plants. There are many good reasons to include native plants in the landscape. Not only are these species well-adapted to the environment and require less care, but they also benefit indigenous animals, birds, and insects. This native plant resource compiled by NY State Department of Environmental Services will give you an idea of the wide variety of flower colors, textures and plant options you have when considering adding native plants.
Hellebores: These are the crown jewels of the late-winter and early-spring garden. Hellebores are evergreens that will tolerate shade, extreme cold and flower freely for a month or longer, what more can we ask. Generally, late February and early March is also a great time to plant hellebores when they become readily available in our garden centers, weather permitting. Flowering in shades of pink, red, white and purple, they are an incomparable addition to the garden.
Seed & plant Catalogues: Curl up and thumb through this springs new plant offerings. We are constantly adding to our inventory, broadening our selection of annuals, perennials and shrubs regularly. We are committed to updating and improving our plant collections. If you see something you like and want to know if we will stock it this spring, send your query to info@chelseagardencenter.com.
Roses: For those of you blessed with at least 4-5 hours of full sun, consider David Austin Roses either to plant in containers or in the ground! These magnificent plants were originally bred and grown in England and are now available in the States. All are selected for their fragrance and disease resistance. We urge you to pre-order these roses as there are limited supplies in early to mid April.
Indoor Plant Tips
As winter ends, many houseplants need a refresh. Dry indoor air, lack of humidity, and less sunlight can take their toll.
Watering
As winter days are shorter and less sunlight is available, many indoor plants go into a dormant phase and require less water. Overwatering is a common mistake, so ensure the top few inches of soil are dry before watering. Use your finger or a moisture meter to check the soil’s moisture level before watering. Some plants, like succulents and cacti, need even less water during the winter months. When you do water, make sure to water at the base of the plant rather than on the leaves, to prevent rot.
Temperature & Humidity
Give your houseplants the gift of a spa treatment by moving them to a bathroom for a day or two where you can water them well and provide the extra humidity they thrive on. Grouping plants together is another natural way to boost the humidity around your plants. When placed close together, plants naturally create a more humid microclimate, benefiting from each other’s moisture.
Keep your plants away from drafts or heat sources like radiators, heaters, and vents, as these can dry out the air and cause stress. Most indoor plants prefer temperatures between 60-75°F (15-24°C). Avoid drastic temperature fluctuations that can shock the plant.
Fertilizing & Repotting
Fertilize your plants if you haven’t been doing so over the winter. It’s also a good idea to evaluate plants that have grown and consider repotting them, always checking for any pests. When repotting, the rule of thumb is to go one pot size bigger. Don’t jump from a 12” pot to 20”pot size, go no bigger than 14-16” pot size. Why? Because your plants generally grow better in confinement. Just look at the grow pots they come in and the size and vigor that they reach. The other reason to be prudent with pot size is given more soil and more room to grow, they may quickly outgrow your space.
Pest Control
Even in the winter, pests like spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs can infest indoor plants. Inspect the undersides of leaves and along the stems regularly for signs of pests. If you find any, treat them with insecticidal soap, neem oil, or a mixture of water and dish soap. Gently wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust and potential pests. This also helps the plant absorb more light during the dark winter days!
Need assistance with gardening this spring? Reach out to our garden experts for help with residential or commercial garden planning, design & installation!