Monthly Gardening Tasks – March March 1st, 2016

• Turn off irrigation if rain more than 2” over 2 weeks otherwise the irrigation controller should be set to 45% – in normal years controller should be turned on by mid month

• Check irrigation system- make sure sprinklers working efficiently and that drippers /driplines are not clogged by insect, debris or hard water deposits. Flush all lines

• Warmer days tempt gardeners… Before you start digging take a handful of soil and squeeze it gently. It should crumble in your hands. Otherwise it is probably too wet to work. Digging and tilling wet soil can ruin the soil structure.

• Do not plant tender annual /vegetable starts until after 3/15 (usually last frost for East Bay)

• Weeding –Pull weeds before they go to seed or get out of hand and while the soil is still damp for easier removal.. Most weeds can simply be pulled or cultivated out of the garden. Others, some of the more persistent like horsetails, morning glories or quackgrass you may need to use an herbicide to effectively eliminate them.

• Control Snails : Now is the time to set out snail bait whether rolled up newspapers or a non toxic snail bait.

• Roses: As soon as buds begin to swell, feed roses with a high-nitrogen fertilizer such as 20-10-10, or a commercial rose food. Continue feeding every six weeks until October.

• Amend Soil: Before planting, amend soil with compost, ground bark, or other organic material. This will increase water retention in sandy soil, decrease it in heavy clay soil, and improve the texture of both kinds.

• Spring Planting and transplanting – Planting of shrubs and trees not done in the fall , herbaceous perennials, ornamental grasses while days are shorter and the soil is warming up but there is still natural moisture in the soil and air.

• Lawns: Aerate, de-thatch and fertilize.

• Place Yellow Jacket traps out early this month to catch the queen before she starts her family. Prevention is the best cure!