*THE WEATHER IS BEGINNING TO TEMPT US TO START REMOVING MULCH COVER AND ANY CHRISTMAS TREE BRANCHES THAT YOU USED TO COVER BEDS. REMEMBER ON THE CAPE THE WEATHER CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY…SO PLEASE WAIT TILL MID MARCH ON UNPROTECTED AREAS. PULL THE MULCH OFF GRADUALLY SO THE PLANTINS COMING UP CAN ACCLIMATE TO THE WEATHER.  THIS WILL ALLOW THE LIGHT AND AIR TO START REACHING THE SOIL.  IT WILL HELP TO WARM THE SOIL.

*I’M SEEING A LOT OF MY DAFFODILS AND CROCUS BULBS STARTING TO EMERGE FROM THE SOIL THAT IS WARMING NEAR MY GREENHOUSE AND SOUTH SIDE OF HOUSE…THOSE BEDS SHOULD BE SAFE TO START DOING CLEAN-UP ON AS THEY ARE FAIRLY WELL PROTECTED, SO IF IN FACT YOU HAVE PROTECTED AREAS, YOU CAN START DOING SOME CLEAN-UP IN THOSE AREAS AND NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO START PLANTING PANSIES AND PRIMROSES IF YOU FIND THEM AT LOCAL GREENHOUSES.  REMEMBER TO ACCLIMATE TO THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IF THEY HAVE BEEN KEPT IN GREENHOUSES.

*IF YOU HAVE A PLACE IN A SOUTH WINDOW OR A GREENHOUSE, IT IS TIME TO TAKE CUTTINGS OF “WINTERED OVER” PLANTS SUCH AS GERANIUMS, COLEUS, MUMS.

*TOWARDS THE END OF MARCH CLEAN YOUR WINDOWBOXES AND ADD NEW SOIL TO GET READY FOR SPRING PLANTING. INSPECT YOUR CONTAINERS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE CLEAN BEFORE ADDING NEW SOIL. IF YOU HAVE A COMPOST BIN ADD THE OLD SOIL TO IT AND TURN THE COMPOST.

*CONTAINERS OR WINDOWBOXES SHOULD HAVE SOIL IN THEM THAT HAS WATER MOISTURE PELLETS, POLIMERS, SO YOU HAVE LESS WATERING TO DO…THE POLIMERS RETAIN WATER LONGER…YOU DO NOT NEED A LOT , A SMALL AMOUNT GOES A LONG WAY.

*END OF MARCH, FIRST WEEK IN APRIL IF YOU HAVE A PLACE TO LEAVE POTS YOU CAN GET A JUMP AHEAD ON LILY BULBS, DAHLIAS, BEGONIAS BY PLANTING THEM INSIDE…A GREENHOUSE WOULD BE A GREAT SPOT BUT ALSO A SOUTHERLY EXPOSURE THAT IS PROTECTED WOULD ALSO WORK.

*LATE MARCH AND EARLY APRIL IS A TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT TRANSPLANTING SHRUBS AND TREES.

*THE BIRDS WILL BE LOOKING FOR HOMES SO REMEMBER TO CLEAN OUT BIRDHOUSES. 

*ALSO CLEAN YOUR HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS AND  START THINKING OF PLANTS TO PLANT TO ATTRACTIVE THEM TO YOUR GARDENS.  MORE ON THIS IN APRIL…

*AND LAST, SPEND SOME TIME THINKING OF NEW SPRING PLANTS.  CREATE ON PAPER A DESIGN SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’D LIKE TO ADD TO EXISTING BEDS OR WHERE YOU’D LIKE TO PUT A NEW BED.  USE THIS AS A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. 

Feel free to call me or email me with questions or to set-up a time to get together to discuss planting and design ideas.  If anyone feels like wandering in my gardens let me  know, my yard is always open just for sitting.         ENJOY, CHERYL