Great Lakes gardeners have much to see and do in March. Meteorological spring begins March 1; the sun is warmer, therefore any snows that do come will not last long. The little blooms of early spring defiantly flaunt their colors in the face of wind, snow and freeze. March is widely variable, so much at the garden depends on the weather. Whether bundled up in mittens and a winter coat or puttering in shorts and a T-shirt, we gardeners in this region take whatever March brings.
Barbara Pintozzi
Search for March blooms. The garden is waking up. Joining snowdrops (Galanthus sp) and winter aconites (Eranthis sp), the little bulbousirises, such as Iris reticulata ‘Pixie’, revealed here, unfurl their exotic petals in hues of purple, yellow and blue. Some are aromatic, advocating the gardener to their knees. It could be necessary to pull winter mulch to protect the buds and blooms from slugs that forage on warmer days.
Barbara Pintozzi
Bunches of early crocuses open wide at the sun. If you have problems with squirrels digging up and eating crocus bulbs, plant Crocus tommasinianus, like those ‘Barr’s Purple’, which squirrels generally find unpalatable.
Barbara Pintozzi
Close to the end of March, yards turn blue, as a sea of Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) blooms.
Barbara Pintozzi
For a different look, plant Pushkinia libanotica instead. This little early bulb and the little crocuses and squill are well suited to naturalizing in a yard, as their foliage matures and withers by the time the yard develops long enough to need mowing.
Barbara Pintozzi
Not all March blooms are miniature. Late in March the Christmas climbed (Helleborus niger) opens its own pristine white blooms. The flowers last quite a while and era to an attractive dusky pink.
Barbara Pintozzi
Usually by the end of March, the first of the native wildflowers, sharp-leaved hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. Acuta), begins blooming. It is slightly sooner than round-leaved hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa). Both are semievergreen and may benefit from a bit of dead-leafing before blooming.
Barbara Pintozzi
Even more reassuring than the stalwart blooms of March would be the sprouts peeking up from the soil. The shoots of the native blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) are one of the first to break the soil, followed soon thereafter by the native bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), displayed here. Monkshood (Aconitum sp) also sends leaves up before the remainder of the garden awakens.
Barbara Pintozzi
When emerging, the native bluebells (Mertensia virginica) seem like little purple cabbages until the leaves turn green in April.
Barbara Pintozzi
Watch the birds return. The birds that headed south last autumn are coming, including great blue herons, even if the ice hasn’t melted from area ponds nonetheless. While you’re looking up, observe the tree branches budding.
Barbara Pintozzi
Notice the bees. On a warm day, take time to sit in a secure part of the garden and watch the first bees seeing the early bloomers, such as crocus (Crocus chrysanthus ‘Princess Beatrix’). Soon we will be as busy as these bees with spring garden actions.
Barbara Pintozzi
Keep deer and rabbits away. The gardening season begins in earnest in March. While discovering new sprouts, spray on deer and rabbit repellant to any growth that might become a yummy treat, like the foliage, buds and blooms of tulips (Tulipa ‘Easter Moon’ foliage is revealed). Keep spraying on repellant as foliage grows and buds form, but remember that some grazing may occur anyway.
Barbara Pintozzi
Cut back old foliage. Another March garden task is cutting back the old foliage of hellebores, also known as Lenten roses (Helleborus x hybridus). Removing the unsightly foliage now ensures an attractive setting for the April blooms.
Barbara Pintozzi
Begin spring garden cleanup by cutting any dead or old stalks. Even though it can be tempting to eliminate all winter storms today, it is far better to wait until temperatures become mild to stop frost and freeze damage to tender young growth of perennials.
Cut early-blooming, large-flowered clematis(type II), which flowers on new wood, straight back to terminal leaf buds. Staggering the length of every vine lengthens the blooming period of a clematis.