March is a busy month for gardeners in Coastal BC! As temperatures start warming up, get going with a little cleanup and planting.

Remove winter mulch - Once they show signs of growth, remove winter mulch from perennials and bulbs. And remember, slugs are waking up along with your perennials – it’s time to put out slug bait.

Deadhead - Deadhead spent flower heads on fading spring-blooming bulbs, in order to direct their energy back to their roots so they can build strength for next year.

What to Plant - Continue to plant container-grown trees, shrubs, ground covers, perennial herbs, and perennial flowers, as well as bare-root trees, shrubs and roses.

As long as the soil is well-thawed, you can plant cool-season crops and flowers, including seeds for radishes, peas, sweet peas, lettuces, and greens, and seedlings for broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbages.

Plant potatoes and perennial fruits and vegetables such as rhubarb, asparagus and strawberries (keep the blossoms pinched off the first year to encourage stronger root growth).

Wait to plant warm-season annuals (tomatoes, peppers, basil, marigolds, petunias, etc.) until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up well.

Fertilize - Fertilize camellias and rhododendrons with a fertilizer made especially for acid-loving plants.

Divide Perennials - Perennials need to be divided when they are getting crowded, as evidenced by reduced blooms, floppy stems, or a dead spot in the middle. Or perhaps you simply want more plants! Once they’ve sent up at least two inches of foliage, you can divide the perennials that will bloom in the summer or fall. (For spring-blooming perennials, wait until after they bloom to divide.)

Evergreens - Prune evergreens any time from now until late summer.

Raspberries - Prune this month. June-bearing types should be thinned to 6 inches apart, the tips removed, and old canes from last year removed. Ever-bearing raspberries may be cut to the ground.

Lawns - Reseed where needed. During cool spring weather, mow at 2 inches or so. In July when hot weather hits, raise the mower to 3 inches.

Water Garden - Clear out debris and muck from the bottom of the water garden and add it to your compost heap. Start feeding fish again when water temperatures reach 10 degrees or when fish are active and eagerly eat the food.